Patama joins call for separate ministryKhunying Patama Leeswadtrakul is the latest key sport figure who has shown her backing for the proposal to separate the Ministry of Sports from Tourism. In a recent interview, Khunying Patama, member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and president of the Badminton World Federation (BWF), said she believes that the Ministry of Sports should be an independent ministry while Tourism should be integrated into the Ministry of Culture. "Having an independent Ministry of Sports will facilitate policy‑making and athlete‑development planning will be more continuous, focused, and will address specific needs more effectively. It will also ensure that development of youth sports, mass sports, professional sports and international sports are under the same strategy," she said. Separating sports into an independent ministry will allow for direct policy responsibility, the establishment of governance systems, ethical standards, and regulatory mechanisms appropriate to the specific characteristics of the sports sector.

Source: Bangkok Post March 15, 2026 22:32 UTC