It is with great pleasure once again, that I welcome participants in the 17th Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes tournament to Thailand. As such a long running international tournament, and one of the most popular events of its kind, you really have put Chiang Mai on the world cricket map. That is quite remarkable considering that cricket has not traditionally been a Thai sport!

However, I also find that this state of affairs is changing and that Thai school children are now playing cricket in several parts of the country. The first under-13 ‘national’ tournament of ‘hardball’ cricket took place over 2 days in Chiang Mai this year between teams representing Bangkok, Petchabun, Khon Kaen and Chiang Mai. Over 40 schools in Chiang Mai now engage in a junior version of the sport called appropriately Sawasdee Cricket. And 4 Thai youngsters from the Chiang Mai program have recently represented their country in international cricket competitions. This year too the schools program run by the Chiang Mai Schools Cricket Alliance (CMSCA) has brought home international honour and recognition in being awarded "Best Junior Development Initiative in Asia" by the cricket world governing body the International Cricket Council in London.

Anyone learning English has surely come accross the expression "it's just not cricket" used to describe something unfair or dishonest. The spirit of cricket, traditionally embodies the virtues of honesty, integrity, fair play and team work, the kind of attitudes and behaviour we would all wish our children to learn in the modern world.

The theme of this year's Sixes tournament, "Building a Future for Cricket in Thailand", is one I most sincerely applaud. I hope that you will take encouragement from your achievements so far, and continue to support this wonderful sporting initiative for our children.

Sonthaya Kunplome
Minister
Ministry of Tourism and Sports
Kingdom of Thailand