Muaythai played a prominent role at COB EXPO, recognized as the largest Olympic sports fair in Latin America, with the Muaythai Festival bringing together 300 children to learn and celebrate values such as respect, discipline and perseverance.
Organized by the Brazilian Confederation of Traditional Muaythai -CBMTT-, recognized by the International Federation of Muaythai Amateur -IFMA-, the festival was part of the official program of the Brazilian Olympic Committee -COB-. The initiative took place from September 24 to 28 in São Paulo, within a schedule that gathered numerous sports federations with official institutional presence.
Authorities and federations at the Muaythai Festival
The festival welcomed the participation of sports, federative and diplomatic authorities, including the Ambassador of Thailand to Brazil, Kundhinee Aksornwong, who awarded medals to participants of the Gloves of Hope project. Leaders of the CBMTT and representatives of the COB were also present, strengthening Muaythai’s institutional profile within the Brazilian Olympic movement.
The event was made possible thanks to the joint efforts of CBMTT-IFMA Brazil, the São Paulo State Federation of Traditional Muaythai -FESPMTT-, and the support of EA Events, alongside Olympic figures such as Emanuel Rego, beach volleyball champion at Athens 2004. Participation in such a large-scale fair gives Muaythai greater visibility among Olympic sports and reinforces its recognition on the international stage.
Gloves of Hope linking Olympic values and youth education
The Gloves of Hope project, founded 15 years ago by Master Carlos Camacho, uses Muaythai as a tool for education and personal development. During the festival, 300 children took part in practical workshops and cultural activities, in line with the social inclusion programs promoted by IFMA worldwide.
This initiative is inspired by the global program Muaythai Is Our Gang, created by IFMA to foster education, health and Olympic values through combat sport. Recognition of this model at an event held in partnership with the COB highlights its impact both inside and outside the ring, showing that Muaythai is not only about competition but also about education and the formation of future generations.
Consolidation in the Olympic agenda
The participation of Muaythai in COB EXPO represents another step forward in its consolidation within the Olympic ecosystem, following its recognition by the International Olympic Committee -IOC-. These fairs allow Muaythai to share the stage with well-established Olympic sports, build synergies with national federations and gain visibility before key institutions for its future.
The CBMTT emphasized that “cooperation with the COB strengthens the path of Muaythai in Brazil and opens new opportunities for the development of the sport in the region.”
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