The real thing

Surat Thani - Worapoj Phetkum has not yet stepped into the Olympics boxing ring in Beijing, but a war has broken out at his home in southern Thailand. In this corner, Coke; in the other corner, Pepsi.

The giant soft drink manufacturers have been competing to please Pol Sgt Worapoj's family and friends as they prepare to watch him fight on TV, live from Beijing on Friday.

Pol Sgt Worapoj, the bantamweight silver medallist in Athens four years ago, is one of three Thai boxers who start their Olympic campaigns today. He faces Italy's Jahyn Vittorio Parrinello.

Sermsuk, which produces and distributes Pepsi in Thailand, made the first move by putting up tents at his house in Phanom district in Surat Thani.

Haad Thip, which produces and sells Coke in the southern region, later offered the same service on the condition the Pepsi tents be removed, according to the boxer's father, Thaweep.

Mr Thaweep admitted he could not pick one and drop the other and finally came up with the solution - allowing the two firms to stay at his house. "If they make problems, both will have to leave," he said.

The sponsorship battle for Thai Olympic stars will intensify today when gold medallist Prapawadee Jaroenrattanatarakoon returns from Beijing. She will be taken straight to Chiang Mai.

Tickets to a gala dinner for the star will be 3,000 baht, and any company putting up banners will be charged 3,000 baht. The money will go to the gold medal-winning weightlifter.