The Role of Sangha in Sports Promoting and Support of Thai youth

Abstract

The Sangha in Thai society has multi-dimensional roles to social and 
community development because of helping or supporting people without any limitations, even though those things are not legislated in the disciplines (Vinaya) or 
the Sangha Affairs Act, which is regarded not to have committed an offense according 
to what the Buddha had prescribed. The monks are involved in sports promotion and 
support of the youth as if there is no prohibition of behavior that is implied by an 
offense. Thus, it must be one of the roles of modern monks who turn to promote 
sports for youth leading to fame and awards for contributors to society. However, the 
monks who are going to support such sports, they may have to change their roles to 
be within the scope that can be done in different ways, including 1) the roles of 
promoting and supporting the place of practice within the temples, 2) the roles of 
equipment promotion and support which is used for sports, 3) The use of the name 
of the temple or the monk as the name of the sports team to publicize the activities 
of the temple, 4) The role of sports promotion and support that rely on public 
participation, such as traditional long boat race and other competitions, and 5) The 
role of promoting and supporting temple children to be able to train themselves to 
become a disciplined person through playing both international and local sports.