Ice Hockey Association Disputes Athlete Allowance, Clarifies 28,000 Baht as Competition Budget

The Ice Hockey Association clarified that the 28,000 baht mentioned is the total expense budget for one athlete traveling to compete internationally. This budget covers flight tickets, accommodation, and athlete daily allowances with a minimum rate of 1,000 baht per day. Former national ice hockey athlete Cholpharat Inkarattapithakorn raised concerns about unclear money deductions, noting he signed for 28,000 baht but ultimately received only 5,000 baht from two tournaments. He questioned why travel and accommodation costs were being deducted from athlete allowances, especially after 2-3 months of training. The association explained that for a 20-person team, the total competition budget would be 560,000 baht supported by the Sports Authority of Thailand. If athletes compete for 5 days, the total daily allowance would be 5,000 baht, with the remaining 23,000 baht covering flight and accommodation expenses. Regarding team equipment, the association clarified that all competition gear is association property, which must be returned after tournaments. Hockey sticks can be purchased by athletes and will be reimbursed by the association.