Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen. Tea Banh on Wednesday expressed his gratitude to China for supporting the kingdom's hosting of the upcoming 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and the 12th ASEAN Para Games.
"On behalf of the Cambodian government and the CAMSOC (Cambodia SEA Games Organizing Committee), I'd like to thank the Chinese government for supporting Cambodia in training our coaches, athletes, and technical officials for organizing the opening and closing ceremonies of the upcoming SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games 2023," Banh, also chairman of the CAMSOC, said here in a speech during the closing ceremony of the Cambodia-China 'Golden Dragon 2023' joint drill.
China funded the construction of the capital's Morodok Techo National Stadium, which will be the centerpiece for the official opening and closing ceremonies, and tournaments during the forthcoming Games. The stadium has been put into use since December 2021.
Last September, Cambodia sent the largest-ever team of 160 athletes to get trained in China in preparation for the Games. They have been coached in 12 sports -- swimming, basketball, wushu, weightlifting, volleyball, women's football, badminton, wrestling, judo, table tennis, athletics and gymnastics.
"This is another fruit of the ironclad friendship and close cooperation between Cambodia and China," said Vath Chamroeun, secretary general of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia.
For the first time in 64 years, Cambodia will host the 32nd SEA Games from May 5 to 17 and the 12th ASEAN Para Games from June 3 to 9.
According to the CAMSOC, the 32nd SEA Games will see athletes competing in 37 sports with more than 600 disciplines.