Scores of events cancelled

Scores of events cancelled

Some concerts and sports tournaments postponed during period of mourning

Published on January 5, 2008

Several concerts, sports and entertainment events have been cancelled during this mourning period for HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana.

The Cabinet has requested cooperation from government agencies and entertainment venues to suspend any entertainment activities for 15 days between January 2 and 16.

Many events have been cancelled or postponed during this period of mourning. These are listed below:

The Tiger Translate Music & Arts Festival (Tigertranslate.com) scheduled to be held today at Suan Lum Night Plaza has been postponed. The new date has not yet been confirmed.

The Bangkok Symphony Orchestra (Bangkoksymphony.com) has cancelled its free outdoor concerts "Music in the Park" tomorrow and next Sunday. The series will resume on January 20.

Songs-for-lifers Carabao have postponed their January 12 concert at Bonanza Khao Yai, Nakhon Ratchasima. The show has been rescheduled for February 16 at the same venue. More information at Thaiticketmajor.com.

Violinist Maxim Vengerov has cancelled his shows at Mahidol University's College of Music in Nakhon Pathom on January 12 and 13. For ticket refunds, go to Thaiticketmajor.com.

Danish jazz vocalist Benni Chawes and his band have postponed their Bangkok show on January 21 at the Thailand Cultural Centre. The concert will now take place in May. Information at Thaiticketmajor.com.

The Soontarapon 98 Concert, scheduled for January 27 at the Thailand Cultural Centre is cancelled.

Organisers have also postponed several major sporting events, including The Royal Trophy Golf Championship and the 6th Thailand Polo King's Cup.

Thailand had initially planned to host The Royal Trophy Golf Championship at the Amata Spring Country Club from January 11 to 13. The tournament would have featured some of the finest golfers from Asia and Europe competing for stewardship over the coveted Royal Trophy, which was graciously donated by His Majesty the

King.

However, after the government announced the 15-day mourning period and asked that festive activities be suspended during this time, the organisers have decided to postpone the prestigious tournament.

The event's third edition will be held at the earliest date possible.

The Thailand Polo Association had to make the same decision regarding the 2008 Thailand Polo King's Cup.

The competition - sponsored jointly by the TPA, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, King Power and Thai Airways International - had been scheduled for January 21 through to January 26 at the Siam Polo Park in Pattaya and the VR Sport Club in Samut Prakarn.

The organisers said yesterday the mourning over the passing away of the Princess had led to the indefinite postponement of the annual competition.

Meanwhile, the competition date for the 64th Chula-Thammasat traditional football match remains unchanged.

The annual encounter between the two most famous universities in Thailand - Chulalongkorn University (CU) and Thammasat University (TU)- will be held on January 19 at the Supachalasai Stadium.

There will however be adjustments made to some of the high-spirited activities, such as the traditional huge parade mocking Thai politics, in respect of the nation's mourning.

The organisers said that instead of the parade mocking politicians there will be one to honour Chaofah Ajaan (the Princess Professor). The Princess had devoted herself tirelessly to the teaching of students at both universities.

The crowd in the grandstands will wear black armbands, while cheerleaders will be dressed in black and white.

Yesterday morning, student representatives of both universities held a charitable blood donation campaign in front of MBK as part of the merit-making campaign for the Princess.

The Nation