TCA Fragrant As MPH Invites

Thai Cycling Association is fragrant as the Ministry of Public Health invites to join the " Challenging Step" season 2, persuading people to exercise in accordance with government policies. As for General Decha reveals that there was an activity “Home Cycling, Combating COVID-19”, it can be integrated into one project immediately. Somsak Paniangthong, an advisor of Deputy Minister of Public Health appreciated Thai Cycling Association for a new normal exercise.  It should be a prototype of other sports associations during the COVID-19 epidemic.

“Seth. Muek” General Decha Hemkasri, President of Thai Cycling Association (TCA) under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King, said that the Association was honored by Dr. Satit Patutecha, Deputy Minister of Public Health, to invite to participate in the “Challenging Step” Season 2, a project of the government promoting the physical activity of people in accordance with the way of life to be easy, fun and challenging. In this regard, the Ministry of Public Health has the policy to promote exercise with a community-based basis, focusing on promoting exercise by using new technology.

General Decha said that the project “Challenging Step” Season 1 has been completed on Feb 1- March 31 in the “VIRTUAL RUN” format that is a collection of a walking-running distance through the application connected to the central database so as to determine a running distance of 60 kilometers within 60 days. It appeared that success was well. And the situation of the covid-19 virus spread throughout the world. In addition, Thailand has announced the Emergency Decree causing most people to live at their homes and to do less exercise. The Ministry of Public Health, therefore, has organized the “Challenging Step to combat COVID-19” Season 2 project but at this time, it will focus on exercising at the home from categories of 6 sports, consisting of  running, aerobics, weight training, Yoga, Keita Muay Thai and Cycling.

The President of the Association said that at the latest moment on May 28, the Ministry of Public Health invited the technical department of the Association to attend a meeting with the Department of Health and related parties at the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Health, presided over by Mr. Somsak. Paniangthong, an advisor of Dr. Satit Patutecha, Deputy Minister of Public Health to determine the format of the activity in which direction it will go and how to bring the mass to join. As for the Association, we have already had an activity “Home Cycling, Combating COVID-19” which is an online cycling or E-Cycling through the application "Zwift" in collaboration with the Office of Thai Health Promotion Foundation. (THPF) on every Thursday in the form of the healthy cycling and on every Sunday in the form of the competition that can be combined with the “Challenging Step” project immediately.

Mr Somsak Paniangthong, an advisor of Deputy Minister of Public Health, said that as the activity “Home Cycling, Combating COVID-19” of the Association is an adjustment to a New Normal exercise. The Ministry of Public Health wants to be a prototype of other sports associations. In such a situation, every sports association has problems. However, the Association has never stopped, there is the development and constant alertness. The main goal of the “Challenging Step” project is to persuade people to exercise to reach their goals. As for the cycling, it may be specified that the cyclist must have a distance of 300 kilometers within 60 days, challenging the participants whether they can meet their goals or not.

Mr Somsak went on to say that the Association must have a way to attract as many people as possible to register in the database by focusing on participating in activities in the form of the healthy cycling, but there may be small rewards as a motivation. We may not only look at using the Zwift application, but anyone who uses a normal exercise bike or even a housekeeper bike can participate in the "Challenging Step" activity. The registered users must take a photo and send it via the Line application as per the steps for the "Challenging Step" activity. Season 2. The period of operation is from July to August, there will be a press conference on June 15 that we will invite General Decha Hemkasri, President of the Association and Thai national riders such as Mr Jai Angsuthasawit, “Beaze” Lt. Jutatip Maneephan, Natalie Panyawan, Pcf. Sarawut Sirironnachai, Pol.L/C Nawuti Lipongyu, Lt. Thurakit Boonrattanathanakorn, Mr Thanakarn Chaiyasombat, including famous female riders such as “Yui” Wadee Srijarupruek (KOM KOM Team), “Nong Song” Rawirat Srisopha (Vann Cycling Team) to attend a press conference.

General Decha also added that the Association is moving forward to organize “Home Cycling, Combating COVID-19” activity seriously, a studio was set up for broadcasting via the Thaicycling Association Facebook Fan page, together with buying cameras, editing equipment, lighting, with the Association's own budget to encourage people to exercise at home without having to go out and to risk being infected with the COVID-19. In addition, Union Cycliste Internationale (UIC) has collaborated with Zwift platform to develop a program to organize an online cycling competition or E-Cycling in the future. Right now, there are a lot of people from all over the country interested in joining the “Home Cycling, Combating COVID-19” activity, as well as having a live audience on Facebook page of over 500,000 fans. There are more than 5 hundred thousand views on the live Facebook fan page.

As for the competition on Sunday May 31, there will be a trophy of honor from General Decha Hemkasri, President of the Association, presenting to cyclists of both male and female categories with a total of 40 awards. The interesting persons can follow the details and results of the competition on Facebook fan page and the website of Thai Cycling Association www.thaicycling.or.th.