Publicity stunt won't help drug-users

It has a big picture of Yingluck Shinawatra’s face superimposed on it, so I wondered what it was, since I did not associate her with football.

This reminds me of previous crass attempts by politicians to gain favour by playing off the popularity of football in Thailand, but in this case involving a crazy award amount of Bt17 million. The ads state that the pretext for this programme is “drug prevention” and to “create good future citizens”.

What is the relation between promoting street soccer and drug prevention? The only reason there is street soccer is because the government has failed to provide playing fields and parks for the public. So poor people are forced to kick the ball around underneath bridges and elevated highways. It is due to failure of public policy that there is street soccer in the first place.

Also, anyone who actively plays street soccer is athletic. The applicants for the PM’s Street Soccer Cup are unlikely to be drug addicts, since addicts would not be physically fit enough to engage in sports.

The Bt17 million could be better used for direct drug prevention or to build playing fields for young people.

Finally the way to create a good future citizenry is for the current leaders not to engage in corrupt or selfish practices. This is wishful thinking.

THE SINKING STANDARD

Pattaya