Bangkok--22 Aug--Aziam Burson-Marsteller To promote unity among Thai children with courageous spirit The Honda Group of Companies in Thailand and the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), the Ministry of Education, which are organizing the 3rd 31 legs competition entitled “OBEC — Honda 31 Legs United Race Year 3”, in collaboration with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the Athletic Association of Thailand, the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. These organizations have invited schools with grades 5 and 6 nationwide as well as primary schools under the BMA to enter the 2007 event and compete for the H.R.H Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s trophy. In addition, 1,000 sets of 31 leg race equipment are being given away for free 1,000 schools so that they can practice for the event. According to Professor Dr Wichit Srisa-an, Education Minister, “The 3rd OBEC — Honda 31 Legs United Race is a unique cooperative effort between the public and private sectors. The Ministry of Education’s core mission is to promote comprehensive quality basic education for a learning population on the basis of ethics led knowledge in accordance with the sufficiency economy philosophy.” He continued, “Promoting sports among Thai children is another focus of the Ministry as sports promotes a physically healthy lifestyles while encouraging Thai children to spend their time enjoying new experiences. More importantly, sports are another means to nourish ethics and give Thai children the spirit of sportsmanship and determination. Children can learn that to be successful in many activities requires teamwork and sportsmanship. This understanding is essential to help children move towards adulthood. The 31 Legs United Race was initiated by the Honda Group of Companies in Thailand for Thai children to try and enjoy. This initiative was created by a private company for wider and sustainable adoption as a sport that is beneficial to children. Supported by OBEC which is the co-host of the event, the 31 Legs Unite Race demonstrates an ideal collaboration between the state and private agencies to develop sports for the benefit of Thai children, who will be a major force for the further development of the nation.” Mr Mungkorn Kulvanich, Deputy Secretary-General of OBEC said, “We are very delighted to be the co-host of the 3rd OBEC — Honda 31 Legs United Race. We recognize the genuine value of this new challenge that promotes healthy lifestyles and supports the mental development of children. As the joint host of the event, we would like all schools throughout Thailand to have an opportunity to practice this unique activity. We have worked closely with the schools under the OBEC network to communicate the competition to more than 30,000 schools all over the country and participated in planning the race. OBEC has also provided funds for the regional and national races. We are confident that with full private and public cooperation, the activity will be widely promoted to primary students nationwide. We hope that this project will be an ongoing activity as it is an appealing sport that encourages tangible unity among children. Today unity is very important as both unity and solidarity are very much needed in Thailand.” According to Mr. Adisak Rohitasune, Senior Vice President, Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd., representing the Honda Group of Companies in Thailand, which initiated and introduced the 31 Legs race into Thailand, “Honda believes that it is very useful to give Thai children an opportunity to experience individually this new sporting event as it will encourage them to learn about teamwork, sportsmanship, unity and dedication. The Honda 31 Legs United Race was first initiated and organized in Thailand by Honda in 2005 and it has now been run for three consecutive years. We want more and more children to participate in 31 Legs and we hope that the sport will be increasingly popular in the future. To run the project, Honda has received tremendous support from public agencies including the OBEC under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, which is co-hosting the 2007 event, as well as contributions by the BMA, the Athletic Association of Thailand, the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and Honda automobile and motorcycle dealers nationwide. All of these organizations have worked together for the ultimate success of the 3rd 31 Legs Race 2007.” The Honda Group of Companies in Thailand and OBEC have prepared 1,000 sets of 31 Legs equipment comprised of 3 packs of 105 standard ankle pads, a competition manual and VCD featuring advice on technique and safety. All told this equipment is worth more than 3 million baht and will be given away at no cost to 1,000 elementary schools nationwide that are interested in entering the competition. Any other school that has a courageous spirit and the power of unity, which wants to practice the 31 Legs sport without joining the competition can contact the program organizers to receive the 31 Legs equipment at no cost. For the schools that qualify, the regional rounds will take place in each region of the country. The regional race will take place in 6 locations including the north, northeast, two locations in the central region, the south and Bangkok. Only the five teams that attain the highest scores in each region, or a total of 30 teams throughout the country, will join the final round that will take place on Children’s Day, Saturday, January 12, 2008. More information about the 31 Legs United Race program is available at the program’s information center, Tel : 081-664-7171, 081-664-7272, 081-664-7373, 081-664-7474, 081-664-7575 on Mondays-Fridays, 8am-5pm. The list of nationwide schools which have been awarded 31 Legs equipment is available at www.honda31legs.com.About the Honda 31 Legs Race The Honda 31 Legs United Race is a challenging new sport that requires 30 runners having their legs fastened together. Built upon the basic idea of 3-legs running, which involves binding the legs of two people so that unity and teamwork are required to run, the Honda 31 Legs United racing competition has 30 person teams who run abreast for 50 meters as fast as possible. They must demonstrate unity, teamwork and dedication to be successful. This fun and exciting sport promotes the spirit of unity and challenge. The current world record is 8.80 seconds by the Ishii Higashi School team in Japan and it remains in the Guinness Book the World of Records. In the 2006 Thailand Championship competition, the Joseph Upatham School from Nakhonprathom province was the victor and won the H.R.H Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s trophy with the fastest time of 9.32 seconds, beating the 2005 record of 09.34 seconds held by the team from the Wat Pom Vichien Chotoikaramin school in Samut Sakorn province. Media information, please contact: NR2007-220807-033 Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Benjawan Suesat Tel. (0) 22360256 ext. 1554 Email: [email protected] Media information, please contact: Aziam Burson-Marsteller Jaruwan Vorarakthananune Tel. (0) 2252 9871 Email: [email protected] Satida Srithunyatorn Tel. (0) 2252 9871 Email: [email protected]