Hundreds of thousands of blue-clad people nationwide
have affirmed
their respect, love and loyalty for Her
Majesty the Queen and the monarchy with
their largest
ever bicycle parade which set a new world record Sunday.
The main event was in Bangkok where His Royal Highness
Crown Prince Maha
Vajiralongkorn led more than 40,000
cyclists who joined the "Bike for
Mom" cycling event
Sunday evening to mark Her Majesty the Queen’s 83 rd birthday.
The Crown Prince and Her Royal Highness Princess
Bajrakitiyabha led cyclists
along the 43-kilometre round-route
from the Royal Plaza through Bangkok streets
to the 11th
Infantry Regiment in Bang Khen.
The event notched up a new record for the
world's largest
bicycle parade, breaking the previous record set in Taiwan.
In
2012, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the
founding of the Republic of China,
Taiwan held the
"One Bike One" event and drew 72,919 cyclists across
the country to ride, according to the World Record Academy.
The previous world record for the largest bicycle parade
consisted
of 48,615 cyclists at an event in Italy, and was
noted by the Guinness Book of
World Records.
For Thailand, 294,863 people registered to participate in the
"Bike for
Mom" parade nationwide. The Guinness
World Records committee was also
invited to certify the event.
The committee has certified that Thailand
now holds the
new world record, with 146,266 cyclists nationwide who
successfully rode and met its criteria.
People from all walks of life, from children to the elderly,
as well as people
with disabilities, participated in the event.
In the capital, late-comers braved the heat
and bright sunlight,
as they stood in the middle of Sanam Luang, queuing for
their
last minute registration for the event.
Even for those who didn't enroll by the late
July deadline,
the much-expected parade could not be missed.
It was an historical day, cyclists and
curious onlookers
agreed cheerfully, adding the temperature, though hot,
didn't
stop them from coming. Some came as early as 7am.
By early afternoon, the attention shifted a
few streets down
to the front of the Royal Plaza, where many waited for
HRH the
Crown Prince to kickstart the parade.
Most VIPs, including Prime Minister Prayut
Chan-o-cha,
cabinet members, court presidents and high-ranking officials
as
well as diplomats, had their bicycles lined up since morning
at the Royal
Plaza. They were joined by various politicians,
as well as businessmen and
celebrities. This special moment
was televised and the sea of blue blossomed to
prove how
united Thais are in their overwhelming loyalty to
the royal family,
observers said.
"I'm happy the Royal Family is supportive of cycling
events
and hope it will be a starting point for Thais to ride their bikes
more
often," said Supakon Pattanakhunam,
an experienced cyclist. The avid rider
says he wants the world
to see that Thais chose to ride bicycles as their way
of expressing
their love for the monarchy.
"It's the first time I have been able to ride with
HRH
Crown Prince.
It might be the only time as well. I wish he'd do that more
often,"
he said, adding he was hoping to show his best skills for
this
occasion.
blue flags and shouted "Long Live the Crown Prince"
when he biked past. The Crown Prince responded by smiling
and waving his hand at the people.
It's the first time that such an activity has been held,
with HRH the Crown Prince taking part in it side by side
with the public, said Boonsong Suthipjit, a medical doctor
from the Royal Household Bureau "I dropped all other
activities I had today, to volunteer as a medic here,"
said Dr Boonsong.
described how the event differed from other royal celebrations.
He feels it allowed people to take a more active part in
celebrations than in past such events.
attended the Bike for Mom activity as well. In Mae Hong Son,
ethnic Karen highlanders in Huai Sua Thao of Muang district
rode their bikes as part of the event.
In Phitsanulok, Wattana Kham-in, an 11-year-old disabled boy
with no arms, arrived at Phitsanulok city hall in Muang district
with his relatives to join the local cycling parade.
In Phayao, Plieng Rakphan, an 83-year-old man attended
the Bike for Mom event covering 26km in the province.
He said even though his bicycle was old, he wanted to be
part of this national activity.
News,General,Bangkok Post ,17 August 2015.
Long Live Our Beloved Queen.
Long Live Our Beloved His Royal Highness Crown
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