World-Class Windsurfers gather to honor His Majesty the King's 80th Birthday Anniversary Phuket: January 9, 2008 - Tourism Authority of Thailand in association with The Yacht Racing Association of Thailand and The Windsurfing Association of Thailand by The Eastern Windsurfing Club is truly delighted to host a windsurfing competition in the form of a rally to celebrate the auspicious occasion of His Majesty The King's 80th Birthday Anniversary 5th December 2007. The event will be titled, "Puravarna Windsurfing Rally for His Majesty The King," and will be held from January 15 - 20, 2008 off Thailand's famous beach resort at Phuket. In addition to a world class entry of top athletes from 21 countries the Tourism Authority of Thailand is very pleased to announce that the Thai national team will also enter the competition! The presence of 30 of the world's best exponents of windsurfing promises an exciting event! The route to be used in the competition cruises along many famous beaches surrounding Phuket Island. More than 100 kilometres of breathtaking scenery and marine environment await participants in this world's first windsurfing rally. The Chairman of the National Board of Director, Dr. Suwit Yodmanee, Thailand's Minister of Tourism and Sports, commented about several unique points in this rally drawing attention to the world class competitor entry featuring winners of medals from recent Olympic Games and international competitions, being ready and willing to support this competition in honour of His Majesty The King. Secondly, that sports equipment, sport clothes, and other accessories having been specifically designed to fit with the philosophy and objectives of the event when boards, sails, and racing suits have been produced in yellow, the color of His Majesty The King. He went on to add that the competition will be broadcasted to about 170 million households worldwide, providing the great opportunity to showcase Phuket Island, the Pearl of Andaman, and the leading tourist attraction of the region. Event Manager ,Thanit Raksanaves of the Eastern Windsurfing Club said that he is thrilled to have such a broad international entry especially from the major European Countries, Scandinavia, North America and Asia and especially the European countries that have produced so many of the world's greatest windsurfers. Topping the list are Christoph Sieber, from Austria who is the Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medallist; Guy Gribb, UK's number one national windsurfer for 13 consecutive years; ; French former world's professional champion, Patrice Belbeoch; Riccardo Giordano, Italy's number one national windsurfer for 14 consecutive years and former European Windsurf Champion. Representing Asia will be Asian Games silver medallist and SEA Games gold medallist for five consecutive years, Saad Panyawan, along with Aran Homraruen, Thailand's national windsurfer who won several medals at the Asian Games. The thirty-minute program of this event will be broadcasted through many International News Media, television networks, and sport channels such as FOX SPORTS, STAR SPORTS, TPS, NOVA, GLOBAL TV which expected viewer of over 170 million households. The "Puravarna Windsurfing Rally for His Majesty The King" receives support from both government and public sectors including 1. Tourism Authority of Thailand 2. Puravarna and The Royal Phuket Yacht Club 3. Thai Beverage Public Company Limited 4. Body Glove (Thailand) Public Company Limited. 5. Bangkok Airways Co., Ltd. 6. EVA Air 7. Indigo Pearl Resort, Phuket 8. Phuket Graceland Resort & Spa 9. Oakley (Thailand) 10 Static Group Co.,Ltd. 11. MTV Thailand 12. Phuket Gazette 13. CAT Telecom Public Company Limited. The event also gets a well support from local organizations in Phuket including, 1. Phuket Governor's Office 2. Tourism Authority of Thailand, Southern Office, Region 4 (Phuket - Phang Nga - Krabi) 3. Ministry of Tourism and Sports 4. Royal Thai Navy 5. Marine Department 6. Marine Police Division 7. National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department 8. Sirinart National Park (Nai Yang Beach) 9. Sakoo Sub-District Administrative Organization (Nai Yang Beach) 10 Cherng Talay Sub-District Administrative Organization (Surin Beach) 11. Patong Municipality (Patong Beach) 12. Karon Municipality (Kata Beach) 13. Rawai Municipality (Nai Harn Beach)