"Big A" openly admits that Thailand's budget is not ready to host the 2030 Youth Olympic Games.
On 5 May 2026, "Big A" Surasak Pancharoenworakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, is preparing to submit a proposal to the Cabinet to cancel Thailand's bid to host the 2030 Youth Olympic Games. He cited the country's current economic and financial situation as unprepared to host the event because it requires a budget exceeding 5 billion baht. Moreover, the government still has to issue emergency borrowing decrees to manage the energy crisis and provide relief to the people.
Surasak Pancharoenworakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, revealed that after Thailand advanced to the final three candidate countries to host the 2030 Youth Olympic Games alongside Chile and Paraguay, the government has carefully discussed the matter and plans to bring it before the Cabinet to reject hosting the Youth Olympic Games. The reason given is that the current economic and financial situation does not support hosting the event, which requires a budget exceeding 5 billion baht.
"We must admit that the government still needs to issue emergency borrowing decrees to resolve the energy crisis and provide relief to the public. Therefore, we are not ready financially to host the event. Additionally, contingency plans from related agencies remain unclear. I have consulted with the Prime Minister (Anutin Charnvirakul), and we will soon propose to the Cabinet to reconsider our candidacy. Once the Cabinet decision is made, we will notify the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that we are not ready to proceed, providing the reasons mentioned." Surasak said.