A Thai celeb who took the initiative to out his COVID-19 infection will be awarded for his “athletic spirit” by a major international boxing federation.
Matthew Deane Chanthavanij, a 41-year-old boxer and actor, will be honored with the WBC Youth Care award Thursday by the World Boxing Council’s regional body, two months after he won wide public praise for announcing he’d been infected with COVID-19.
Kovid Bhakdibhumi, president of WBC Asia, said Matthew’s bravery will be recognized by the Mexico City-based organization at a ceremony taking place at 1pm at regional headquarters in Bangkok. His treating physician at Bumrungrad Hospital, Wichai Techasathit, will also be recognized, according to WBC Asia sec-gen Kevin Noone.
Matthew on March 13 announced via social media that he was ill and urged anyone who had come into contact with him to be aware.
The public responded very favorably to his transparency compared to that of public health officials, who up until that point had been opaque and refused to disclose many details about the growing number of cases. In fact, Matthew was soon threatened with prosecution under the Computer Crime Act.
He was likely infected at a Lumpinee Boxing Stadium event that he hosted. The army-owned facility had ignored orders to halt events and went ahead with matches where more than 100 people took ill.
The army said it would review what happened internally; so far no one has been held responsible.
His announcement came at a time the virus’s spread was accelerating beyond health officials ability to manage the message. Soon thereafter, they began daily briefings and publicized more information about who had taken ill and where.
Matthew’s wife, singer Lydis Sarunrat Deane, also became infected with the virus, likely contracted from her husband. The couple has remained active online while being treated at the hospital, updating their fans with their symptoms and treatment.
They were discharged April 23.
Update: This story has been updated with information that Matthew’s physician will also be awarded, and the preferred spelling of WBC Asia’s president.
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