4,606km relay for Tokyo Olympics flagged off in Bangkok

 

Ninety-two flag runners, including athletes, celebrities and members of the public, are taking part in the 92.6-kilometre relay to Samut Songkhram province on Sunday.

The first bearer of the flag was amateur boxer Somrak Kamsing, who had won the first gold medal for Thailand in the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Somrak said he was excited to be chosen as the first bearer of the flag, adding that he had been exercising in preparation for the event.

"As a former Thai athlete, I would like to cheer junior athletes to do their best to bring victory to our country," Somrak said.

A total of 4,568 flag runners will take part in the 4,606km relay through 35 provinces in 61 days.

The relay will end at Suvarnabhumi Airport on May 27 and the flag will take off with the Thai Olympic team to Tokyo.

The 35 provinces through which the relay will pass are: Bangkok, Samut Songkhram, Samut Sakhon, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, Phatthalung, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Kanchanaburi, Suphan Buri, Chainat, Nakhon Sawan, Kamphaeng Phet, Tak, Lampang, Lamphun, Chiang Mai, Phrae, Uttaradit, Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi, Rayong, Chon Buri, Chachoengsao, and Samut Prakan.

The second day of the flag relay will start at a stadium in Samut Songkhram province on Monday. Seventy-nine flag runners will take part in the 79.4km relay to Phetchaburi from 6am onwards.

People who are interested can follow the flag relay on the "Stadium TH" website or Facebook page.