Sports have always had the power to bring people together, whether you’re spectating or participating, and I think this particularly applies to communities like Pattaya. It’s a very important part of the social fabric of the city and I’m sure Pattaya would be a very different place without it. When I first arrived in the Kingdom some 13 years ago, it was football that dominated the landscape and one of the great joys of life at the time was going to your favourite bar and having a few cold beers whilst watching a Premier League match being played some 6000 miles away. Almost every bar and sports lounge in the city had TVs showing sport from around the world.

Of course Pattaya is much the same now, with sports viewing playing a vital part in the social cohesion that brings people together, not to mention the crucial financial benefits it brings. Whether it be football, Rugby, Formula 1, which is really popular here, or any other option that gets people out and watching, sport plays ts part in keeping people connected and businesses ticking over.

It’s not just the watching of sport from around the world that’s important here. Participation and live events also play their part. Pattaya has several top quality golf courses within an hour’s drive and the numerous societies and clubs that arrange multi weekly visits to these courses are a great way for long term residents to meet friends regularly and spend a day out on the fairways, or in the trees in my case! The game can be extremely frustrating at times but there really is nothing like being out for the day with like minded people, on a beautiful golf course with the sun shining. The city also has a thriving lawn bowls scene, which again is a lovely way to spend the day among friends.

Pattaya is not blessed with many live major sporting events but the one that stands out is the World Waterjet Series, held every year at Jomtien Beach and which takes place this year in December. If you’ve never been, it really is exciting viewing and is well worth a visit.

One of our favourite live events here at Discover Pattaya is the Queens Cup Pink Polo event, hosted by the Thai Polo Club and taking place this year on February the 25th. It really is the most wonderful day out and for a donation of 1500 Baht, which goes to charity, you can enjoy some top quality sport in beautiful surroundings. It also shows another side of Pattaya which doesn’t always get the attention it deserves.

In the valentines month of February, this is my love letter to sport and the vital part it plays in our lives here in Pattaya. Long may it continue.