Pattaya could soon be celebrating its first home grown Olympic Champion as pole dancing has been officially recognized as a sport.
The BBC reported that the organizers of the sport – better know by its preferred name of “pole” -were thrilled that what was once the domain of strippers and pay for play girls could now be universally accepted.
With the wealth of talent available in Pattaya’s Go-Go bars it could just be a matter of time before a Thai wears gold around their neck.
While dancers from key pole dancing hot spots such as Soi Cowboy, Nana Plaza and Patpong in Bangkok as well as Patong in Phuket will be following developments with interest.
The International Pole Sport Federation (IPSF) said that their activity has been given “observer status” by the Global Association of International Sport Federation which means it is provisionally recognized as a sport.
There is a way to go yet before we see a Thai on the podium but Katie Coates, 41, of the IPSF from England said: “I feel like we have achieved the impossible.”
Debate has raged in the past over how much the sport’s organizers should acknowledge pole dancing’s somewhat shady past.
But that is unlikely to deter Thailand’s pole dancers in their quest for gold.
The announcement may also interest Thailand minister for Tourism and Sports Kobkarn Watanavarangul.
While she announced last year that she wanted an end to the sex industry she has made it a key aim of her ministry to promote sport in Pattaya and elsewhere.
This may be a great Thai compromise and bring glory to the nation at the Olympics.
(Source:-ThaiVisaNews)