The new owner of Leicester City Football Club (LCFC) Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn is to join Thai students at De Montfort University (DMU) who are marking their king’s birthday with a festive event tonight (Wednesday, 1 December).
Accompanied by club manager Sven-Göran Eriksson and their Chief Executive Officer Lee Hoos, Aiyawatt - who is known as Top - is delighted to be able to join the celebrations which are a major festival in Thailand.
Top said: “This event is important to everyone in my country and means a great deal to me and my family. The King is a wonderful person and I am so proud and pleased to be celebrating his birthday along with everyone at De Montfort University.
“In Thailand, the King’s birthday is a day where everyone can join together as one and be proud of our country and our royal family. I am honoured that our world-class manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson will be joining us to celebrate and I would also like to thank DMU for inviting my family and Leicester City representatives to what we will be a memorable occasion.”
Hosted by the Faculty of Business and Law, the event will also be attended by the university’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Dominic Shellard, as well as regional business representatives and members of Top’s family.
Professor Shellard said: “We are delighted to host this celebration and welcome the excellent cultural contribution our international students bring to the community. It is a real privilege to share these festivities with Top and his family as well as our Thai students.”
The event follows the signing of a Letter of Cooperation between DMU and the Club last month which has seen the university teaching the Foxes’ Japanese player Yuki Abe to speak English.
The celebrations will include demonstrations of traditional Thai dances by the DMU students and recitals of songs always sung in their home country on the Thai king’s birthday.
Posted on Wednesday 1st December 2010