Most Thais want to host Olympics

Most Thais want to host Olympics

JAKARTA (JP): Most Thais want their country to host the
Olympic Games following their success in hosting the Asian Games
which conclude on Sunday, a survey said.

Nearly 82 percent of 400 Bangkok residents surveyed on Dec. 12
believed that they deserve the chance to stage the world's
largest sporting event after Tokyo and Seoul.

The poll, commissioned by South Korean electronics giant
Samsung, revealed that most Thais were proud of the Games they
are hosting and felt that it had boosted the kingdom's image in
international fora.

The survey also discovered the Thais' enthusiasm for the Asiad
in spite of the unabated financial crisis. It said 81 percent of
the respondents watch the Asiad programs on televisions, while 75
percent of the Bangkok residents polled wished to go to venues to
watch their favorite sport competitions. (amd)