The Sport Authority of Thailand (SAT) plans to use natural rubber in the construction of running tracks and field sports surfaces at over 700 stadiums nationwide, to increase domestic consumption of home-grown rubber.
SAT deputy governor Sakon Wannphong said the authority has been assigned by the Sport and Tourism Ministry to prepare plans for maximizing the utilisation of natural rubber, to help rubber farmers suffering from low prices for their product.
The authority would purchase purchase natural rubbers in large amounts to use in construction of tracks and fields, according to a report in Daily News.
Since 2003, the SAT has cooperated with Ministry of Science and Technology’s Department of Science Service in developing a formula using natural rubber, instead of synthetic rubber, to build running tracks. The formula now has been approved by the International Association of Athletics Federations for the raw materials and performance.
Mr Sakon said the authority has set the terms of reference to hire private companies to build the tracks and fields at the more than 700 stadiums under its responsibility. The issue will be considered by the SAT board in October.
Under the terms of reference, private companies who win the bidding to build the tracks and fields have to pay the SAT around one million baht for each stadium, as the cost of the rubber. With this projection, the authority expects to have earnings of over 700 million baht from this project.
If the project is approved, the authority has to consult the Department of Physical Education, Education Ministry and Interior Ministry, which supervise local sport stadiums across the country.
Source: bangkokpost.com
