Thailand could host 2016 Grand Depart

[MatParker117]

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/thailand-bids-host-tour-de-france-138559

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) have said they are in talks with Tour de France organisers, the Amaury Sports Organisation (ASO), about bringing the world’s biggest bike to Asia for the first time in its history.

A senior tourism official told Reuters on Thursday that they were confident of being able to bring the Tour to Thailand in 2016, after successful talks with Jean-Etienne Amaury, the chairman of ASO.

“We are still talking with Tour de France organisers but we are looking at next fiscal year. So 2016, not 2015,” Thawatchai Arunyik, governor of TAT said.

“We’re not sure yet how many stages we will hold whether it is one or two stages or the whole competition. This is something that still needs to be discussed.

“Thailand is the perfect location for this highly prestigious competition, not to mention that cycling as a sport is enjoying enormous popularity here at the moment,” said Arunyik.

Could someone please check the calender for me and let me know I haven't slipped into a coma for seven months because this is surely an April fools joke.

 

[myrideissteelerthanyours]

"one or two stages or the whole competition."

That part was pretty funny.

 

[grizzlee]

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/oct/02/tour-de-france-thailand-2016?CMP=twt_gu
relax, something was lost in translation. The ASO thought they were discussing the prospect of a criterium but the Thais thought they were discussing the tour. thats fu**ing Hilarious

 

[Pricey_sky]

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/oct/02/tour-de-france-thailand-2016?CMP=twt_gu
relax, something was lost in translation. The ASO thought they were discussing the prospect of a criterium but the taiwans thought they were discussing the tour. thats fu**ing Hilarious

Brilliant! They think the are getting the whole Tour instead of a little warm up stage race.

 

[jens_attacks]

pippo & boonen approve!

 

[lemon cheese cake]

This is just mad!

 

[wirral]

Anyone with experience of announcements by senior officials, particularly governors of state agencies, police generals and government ministers in Thailand knows they come up with outrageously untrue statements. They know that over 50% of the general public immediately forget what they said, over 50% of the rest never fact check and over 50% of the rest don't care. The remaining small minority has no power to censure them and if they tried the press would never print it.

Why do they do it? Well, for many reasons.

1. Tell a lie enough times. It becomes true or is believed by a significant number.
2. They get their face and name in the press and sound like a bigshot. This is really important in Thailand. (Senior police officers pay to have their picture up on motorway billboards)
3. A negotiating tactic. Claim you own the moon and you might end up with a piece of cheese which is what you wanted in the first place.
4. Corruption. Rife in Thailand, universal. In this instance the Tourism Authority of Thailand may be requesting a budget to explore the TDF opportunities. This budget would go straight in someone's pocket.
5. Diversion. The TAT has an image problem at the moment regarding rape and murder of tourists. So they need something else to talk about.

As they say, "You're not in Kansas now, Dolly."