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How a Popular Girl Group Band supported Special Olympics Thailand
In February 2018, SO Thailand organized a Charity Concert to raise funds for its programme. It was decided that the Opening Show for this concert should be a unified performance by athletes and guest celebrities dancing to the most popular song in the country, “Koisuru Fortune Cookie” sung by the Girl Group, BNK48. Everyone of every age in every part of Thailand was either singing or dancing this song, pushing the its music video to more than 150 million views.
In order to seek permission for using the song as an opening number, SO Thailand Board Chair, Dr. Naris Chaiyasoot, got in touch with Jirath Pavaravadhana, CEO BNK48. Jirath took one look at the video clip showing the unified dance practice session and immediately gave his consent.
The Charity Concert was itself a success, but little did anyone foresee how BNK48’s relationship with SO Thailand would evolve.
Three months later, members of the band traveled 2 hours from Bangkok to a special centre surrounded by rice fields in Samut Sakorn province to participate as volunteers in a Young Athletes Event. News reached BNK48’s Fan Club and almost a hundred fans flocked to the centre, squeezing themselves into a viewing arena which was hastily set up. Never had any Special Olympics event in Thailand witnessed so many public spectators. BNK48 members engaged enthusiastically with the young athletes while the children and parents were simply in awe.
Last year, while SO Thailand campaigned to raise funds for athletes competing in the 2019 World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi, a unique “D-Day Concert” produced by one of the BNK48 member, Jiradapa, was organized in October. Two thousand fans attended the sold-out performance and watched as Jiradapa presented a one million Baht cheque to SO Thailand on stage at the end of the 3 hours show. Jirath also made a music video of the song “Ten Thousand Journeys” featuring images of SO Athletes and behind-the-scenes comments from Jiradapa. The lyrics speak of having a dream, working towards one’s goal and being brave in facing challenges. That music video has, to this day, received over two hundred thousand views on YouTube
You can watch it here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rajKtMCNEGo
Jirath pledged BNK48’s continuous support for SO Thailand at a Press Conference in the weeks leading up to the World Games. A fortnight later, the Girl Group performed at SO Thailand’s Charity Gala Dinner, giving the Thailand Delegation a grand send-off before the athletes traveled to Abu Dhabi. Their songs included 'Ten Thousand Journeys', '365 Days and the Paper Plane' (whose lyrics encouraged one to Be brave in the Attempt) and 'Koisuru Fortune Cookie'. The last and the most popular song saw SO Thailand female athletes in their red tracksuit joining the dance on stage with BNK48. Watched by over 500 guests, the unified performance finale reaffirmed the message of our commitment for social inclusion.
The partnership between BNK48 and Special Olympics Thailand rests on shared ideals of empowerment, creating new opportunities for social inclusion. It has brought immense happiness and pride to Thai SO Athletes everywhere.
We are overwhelmed by enormous support and commitment that BNK48 has given to us in a very short period of time. It is truly one of the Ten Thousand Journeys that we are voyaging together. The quest has only begun.
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