National Sports Fund Overhauls Budget Allocation by Athletic Potential
Thailand's National Sports Development Fund will overhaul budget allocation starting 2027, shifting from historical baselines to a merit-based system that ranks sports associations by athletic potential and capability.
The National Sports Development Fund has introduced allocation criteria based on athletic potential for the first time, ending the practice of distributing budgets based on historical baselines beginning in fiscal year 2027. This follows Thai Triathlon Association President Dr. Wijit Sittinavawin filing a petition with the Central Administrative Court requesting disclosure of sports budget allocation data from fiscal years 2024–2026.
The fund expressed gratitude to all sports associations for their feedback on budget allocation, payment delays, and operational procedures. It confirmed that all concerns raised have been continuously acknowledged and that reforms have already begun for fiscal year 2027 under the management committee's supervision, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Thongsri, with Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Punprachaiwong as vice chair. The committee approved these reforms at its ninth meeting on July 23, 2025.
The reform includes two key initiatives. First, the fund has revised budget allocation criteria to account for the different potential and needs of each sport. Previously, allocations were based on historical baselines, raising concerns about fairness given the varying missions, costs, and development potential of different sports. The new system establishes clear, transparent, and auditable allocation standards based on each sport's actual capability and requirements.
Second, the fund has established a tiered allocation framework for 10 sports associations in the first phase, drawn from 90 associations using the title "of Thailand." Budget allocations are grouped into four capability levels, with the highest-potential sports receiving up to 35 million baht per association, and tiers below determined by assessed potential. The new approach employs zero-based budgeting principles to ensure efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and equitable distribution across all funding sources, departing from discretionary decisions tied to previous allocations.
