Bangkok: The Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) convened a crucial meeting to address the disbursement of allowances for the upcoming 20th Asian Games in Japan. This meeting, held in Meeting Room 1, on the 4th floor of the Chalerm Phrakiat 7th Cycle Building, saw the participation of key figures including Mr. Preecha Lalun, Deputy Governor of SAT for Elite Sports and Sports Science; Mr. Yutthaya Chinheet, Director of Elite Sports Development; and Mr. Suwat Luangtrakul, Director of Sports Science, along with other officials and representatives from sports associations.
According to Thai News Agency, the SAT, in collaboration with the National Olympic Committee of Thailand and 46 competitive sports associations, has devised a comprehensive six-month preparation program for athletes. Spanning from March 1 to September 16, 2026, the program is backed by a budget of 271,140,670 baht from the National Sports Development Fund. The budget allocates 226,860,691 baht for allowances for athletes, coaches, and staff, while 44,279,979 baht is earmarked for training equipment.
However, challenges have emerged in the disbursement process. Allowances for some athletes, coaches, and staff have been delayed due to incomplete documentation from 12 sports associations. These documentation issues arose in May 2026 due to various reasons such as athletes being abroad and not receiving accommodation receipts, or sports associations lacking adequate staff to process documents on time. Despite these hurdles, sports associations have managed to disburse payments up to the current month.
In terms of training equipment funds, the sports associations requested to handle purchases for greater efficiency. After receiving approval from the fund, a memorandum of understanding was issued in May 2026. As of now, 10 sports associations have completed disbursements, 21 are awaiting approval from the SAT, and 7 have yet to submit their documents.
The meeting emphasized the urgency of expediting allowance and equipment cost disbursements by the end of August 2026. Separate submissions for allowances, accommodation, and utility costs are required by September 15, 2026. For September allowances, necessary documents must be submitted by August 18, 2026, ensuring that athletes, coaches, and staff receive their allowances by September 30, 2026.