Thailand women's volleyball team goes to the Olympics for the first time: latest bonus payout revealed after meeting the Prime Minister at Government House. The government honored the team following their historic achievement.
On 3 September 2026, at the Purple Room, Thai Koo Fah Building, Government House, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who is also Minister of Interior, welcomed the athletes, coaches, and representatives of the Volleyball Association of Thailand, who won the 2026 AVC Women's Volleyball Continental Championship in China.
This championship marked the Thai women's volleyball team's fourth major title and secured their first-ever qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA. The team met with the Prime Minister along with Minister of Tourism and Sports Surasak Pancharoenworakul, Sports Authority of Thailand Governor Dr. Kongsak Yodmanee, Special Professor Charoen Watthanasin, Vice Chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand, and Somporn Saiboonya, President of the Volleyball Association of Thailand.
The Prime Minister congratulated the athletes, coaching staff, and team for their outstanding performance on the international stage, bringing pride and honor to Thailand by making history in qualifying for the Olympic Games LA 2028.
He also presented cash prizes totaling 14,760,000 baht to the athletes, coaches, and the Volleyball Association of Thailand for their participation in the 2026 AVC Women's Volleyball Continental Championship.
Initially, the National Sports Development Fund announced bonuses for the 2026 Asian Championship-winning women's volleyball team totaling 11,760,000 baht, distributed according to fund criteria as follows.
- Fourteen athletes received 600,000 baht each, totaling 8,400,000 baht.
- Coaches received 840,000 baht.
- The Volleyball Association received 2,520,000 baht.
Recently, the government added a special bonus of 3,000,000 baht to the women's volleyball team, bringing the total prize money to 14,760,000 baht after their historic Olympic qualification.
The government transferred the prize money directly and in real-time to the athletes' accounts to demonstrate its commitment to continuously support Thai volleyball and its athletes, including welfare, sports science, and related budgets to further develop athletes’ potential.
