Progress Report of the Preparation

of the 20th World Scout Jamboree, 2003 Thailand

Progress Report presented at the 35th World Scout Conference, Durban, South Africa on Friday, July 30, 1999
by Dr. Sasithara Pichaichannarong, Executive Director of the 20th WSJ

Introduction

Venue of the 20th World Scout Jamboree

The 20th World Scout Jamboree, 2003 will be held at Sattahip in Chonburi Province, about 150 km east of Bangkok, Thailand. The trip from Bangkok International Airport to Jamboree site can readily be made by a variety of transportation:

• Buses and private cars take about 2 hours and 30 minutes by highway, taking the entrance at the exit of Don Muang International Airport and then transferring to the Bang Na-Trad expressway which will bring you to Sattahip. The motorway connected to the new ring road should shorten the trip to 2 hours.
• Special train services from Don Muang International Airport direct to Plu Taluang station, 15 km from the Site will also be made available during the Jamboree period.
• Large contingents may find it more convenient to contract charter flights direct to U-Tapao Airport, only 15 km from the camp site. Smaller and medium sized contingents would use the normal service provided by commercial Airlines. Thai International Airway is considering special airfare prices for all participants of the 20th World Scout Jamboree.

The camp site is located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand. The area covers 1,200 hectares and consists of flat plains, foothills and a long white sandy beach, gradually sloping down towards the crystal clear blue sea which is suitable for watersports and outdoor activities.

Work in Progress

The architectural design of the camp site has been four times modified in order to provide the complex with full operational function. The final design consists of four main villages, each of which is able to accommodate up to six Sub-Camps. The International Service Team (IST) camp site is likely to split into two different locations close to the work areas. Two restaurants will be available, each with the capacity of 5,000 servings for better and rapid service during peak periods. The Supermarket Hall will be in two zones each: One zone will take credit cards for daily products and the other will accept currency for supply and all kinds of goods that Scouts will need during their stay at the Jamboree.

The Temporary Jamboree Hospital will function 24 hours a day throughout the Jamboree period. Emergency cases will be transported to the nearest hospitals by ambulance or helicopter. A heliport will be constructed on a foothill at the Jamboree site.

The site will have a Reservoir of 180,000 cubic metres capacity to provide water for up to 35,000 consumers during the the 15 days of the Jamboree. Pipe work for the drinking water supply and the purify treatment station at the Jamboree will be constructed next year.

The Department of Land Development is presently working on the survey of the entire plot of land to assist our architect with the layout of the Jamboree site. Large trees will be mapped and retained during the construction of the infrastructure to avoid damage or removal. Different Forestry Regional Centres are now raising various kinds of plants in their nurseries ready for plantation at the Jamboree when the final design of the Jamboree Camp Site is completed.

Functional Organisation

Office of the 20th World Scout Jamboree

The Office of the 20th World Scout Jamboree officially opened its door to the public on the 17th June 1999. The head is Mr. Wayu Bhayakan, a well known professional Scout. Seven sections have been set up in the Office, namely: Administration, External Relations, Infrastructure, Human Resource Development, Programme Activities, Documentation and Archive and Public Relations Services.

The Thai Host Committee has also set up a number of Working Groups to carry out Jamboree projects:

• The Infrastructure Working Group is responsible for the allocation and the preparation of the land.
• The Electrical - Water Supply Working Group is concentrating only on the consumption and planning of electricity and water services at the Jamboree.
• The City Plan, Garbage and Sewage Working Group is studying the appropriate system for the Jamboree to conceive the site and to return it to a natural state after the world event and to preserve the balance of the local environment.
• The Security Working Group is studying the entire process of training personnel on life saving both for sea and land accidents, security guards and establishing protocols for the contingents joining the Jamboree.
• The Radio Jamboree Working Group is preparing the 42nd World Scout Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA), as invited by the World Scout Bureau in the June 1999 circular for its broadcast on 16-17 October 1999.
• The Information Technology Working Group is preparing for a technical study for the efficient registration and accreditation of the registration fees, method of payment and rapid handout of the Jamboree materials.

Programme Activities

The national body is preparing stimulating and attractive programmes for real Scout events. The 20th World Scout Jamboree will have 6 main programmes:

• Home Hospitality - Scouts and International Service Team will be offered various possibilities for Home Hospitality in collaboration with schools, educational institutes or private Scout camps in Bangkok and outside the capital. A reasonable payment will be requested for these arrangements pre and post Jamboree. The National Scout Organisation of Thailand will organise different visits to cultural, historical and heritage sites, activities and sight-seeing in and around Bangkok.
• Sub-Cap Life - The activities of Scout daily life will be arranged within their own sub-camp. Each sub-camp can accommodate up to 1,000 Scouts. Six sub-camps will be grouped into one village.
• Modules - In addition to Scout activities such as tournament, hike and sport activities, the Global Development Village will provide activities under each of four main themes:
  • Education
  • Human Rights
  • Environment
  • Health
• There will be two main themes covered under a series of fascinating programmes for Youth of the New Millenium. The activities under the themes: 'City of Science and Technology' and the 'Cross Roads of Culture' will be held in a separate complex.
• The Free-Time Activities will include a variety of play, learning and fun activities such as Jamboree Peace Badge, Jamboree Environment Badge, Amateur Radio and the Elephant City.
• General Activities - The Ceremonies and large-scale events will be held in the Main Arena, which has a capacity of 35,000. Access will be provided on all sides to facilitate ease of entrance and exit for the large audiences expected. The Jamboree will have a Welcome Area situated at the entrance on the top of the hill and overlooking the Gulf of Thailand.
• Programme Publications and Materials - Many of the publications and materials will appear at the beginning of next year. The first issue of the Third Millenium Bulletin, the official bulletin of the 20th World Scout Jamboree will be circulated in February 2000.

Human Resource Development

Seminars and workshops were arranged all over Thailand to inform Thai Scouts of this World Event and to train local human resources for the Jamboree. During 1999, four regional seminars will be held: two in Bangkok and two in other parts of the country. On this matter, the National Scout Organisation of Thailand and myself are deeply grateful to the assistance provided by the World Scout Bureau and the collaboration of the World Scout Committee. Meetings with different personalities whose long and vast experience concerning the organisation of World Scout Jamborees were arranged with my Thai colleagues. Jean Cassaigneau, Director of Special Events and Relationships visited Bangkok in March. Jocelyne Gendrin, outgoing Chairperson of the World Scout Committee and Jean-Luc Bertrand, Director of the Global Development Village will be with us for a National Seminar on the Preparation of the Jamboree in September. I also appreciate different collaborations, just to name a few, from many Embassies and International Organisations in Thailand, for instance, the grant of scholarships for French lessons from the French Embassy, the continuing assistance from the British Council in Bangkok and also from the UNICEF regional office.

Highlights

In the preparation of the 20th World Scout Jamboree, 2003 in Thailand we have highlighted the following issues which are expected to be major concerns for the new millennium:

Sustainable Environment

The City Plan, Garbage and Sewage Working Group was set up to study an Environmental Management System for the site of the Jamboree. The camp site will be built, even for temporary use of about two weeks, with careful conceptual design of its sewage system. Used and waste water will be appropriately treated in order not to contaminate the beautiful beach in the vicinity of the Jamboree. Planning of the reception and collection of waste, the type of vehicles and trash bins, and the number of personnel to assure full efficiency will be carefully studied. Infectious waste from the Jamboree Hospital will be appropriately incinerated.

Security and Public Health

As the Jamboree site is located close to the beach, security will be provided along the 3 kilometres of Hat Yao, (long beach) at the Jamboree 24 hours a day, both by well trained and certified Thai staff and by qualified International Service Team. Specific hours for water sports and activities will be provided for Scouts. Life guards will supervise the coast both for security reasons and to help all programmes of the Jamboree to function smoothly.

Alternate teams of food and hygienic inspectors will make regular visits to different Supermarket Halls, food stalls and drinking fountains to ensure the hygiene of food and other products and of the camp site.

Home Hospitality

Your schedule for the Pre or Post Jamboree should be reserved well in advance. Schools, Scout Associations and Private Scout Camps are now planning for a diversity of programmes for our Brother and Sister Scouts coming from all around the world. You will be taken right from the doorstep of the plane to their complex in and around Bangkok for three days prior to the Jamboree. You will have an opportunity to exchange views and ideas with Thai young Scouts who will not be able to join the World Scout Jamboree as the quota of the host country is limited. The Home Hospitality Programme will provide them an opportunity to be friends with Scouts coming from all around the world and will also provide you and your contingent a brief period of adaption to Thai culture.

Those who are planning for the Post Jamboree will have a variety of programmes to choose from such as visits within the country and staying modestly with Thai Scouts or in private scout camps. Information will come out from the beginning of next year.

Calendar of Activities

The World Scout Bureau and the Thai Host Committee are actually planning a number of activities before the Jamboree 2003. Staff from both parties will closely work together from the beginning of the year 2000. The heads of contingents will be visiting the Jamboree in 2001. The possibility of running a small scale of the Jamboree at the end of the year 2001 is on our agenda to ensure full efficiency of all services and facilities at the camp site.

The World Scout Committee will be informed twice a year, through their regular meetings, of the progress of the preparation for the 20th World Scout Jamboree, 2003. After the approval of Registration Fees system to the World Scout Committee in November, you will be informed, in our first issue of the Third Millenium Bulletin, about different kinds of payments: reduced fees for early payment, International Service Team's special rates and deadlines for registration for instance.