Cambodia’s 60-year dream coming true – don’t let it be a nightmare, organisers

IN just 55 days, the curtains will go up on Cambodia’s first-ever SEA Games but niggling questions are slowly cropping up as to whether the country can pull it off without major hiccups.

With less than two months to go before the opening ceremony, there is still no information on where the respective sports competitions are going to be held.

Most will be held in the capital city of Phnom Penh but it has been reported that some sports will take place in Sihanoukville and Siem Reap, which is more than 300km away and where the world famous Angkor Wat temple complex lies.

The organisers have also yet to make public the Games schedule.

There is scant information on the official website, other than stories stating the readiness of the organisers to play host.

To add to the worrries, the chef-de-mission to Malaysia Datuk Nasir Ali expressed hopes that the construction of the Games Village can be completed by the time the Games begin in May.

It was not really a vote of confidence.

According to Nasir, the construction is about 70% complete with some structural problems to be looked into. Two months is too little time for 30% of the work, considering that the country was awarded the job as hosts way back in 2015.

It is worth nothing that the Games will also take place during the hottest time of the year in Cambodia.

Temperatures can soar to between 40 and 42° C and a dusty environment is expected everywhere.

The Malaysian secretariat has also asked athletes and team officials, especially those with asthma, to take precautionary measures.

Malaysia will be sending the youngest contingent in the history of the SEA Games as part early preparations for the 2027 SEA Games, which Kuala Lumpur will host.

There will be 367 athletes and 143 team officials under Category A and 227 athletes and 62 officials under Category B.

At last year’s Hanoi edition, Malaysia finished sixth overall with 39 golds, 45 silvers, and 90 bronze medals, surpassing their target of 36-35-75.

Malaysia are expected to compete in not more than 35 sports at most.

It may be a friendly regional Games but already, there are early signs of discord with Thailand planning to boycott the kickboxing competition in protest against Cambodia using the sport’s local name of Kun Khmer rather than Muay Thai.

The National Olympic Committee of Thailand (NOCT) announced last month that no Thai athletes would compete in kickboxing at the Cambodia Games.

This move came after Cambodia removed all reference to Muay Thai from the SEA Games schedule, sparking a backlash among Thailand’s Muay Thai associations.

Cambodia has also set a precedent by selling the SEA Games TV rights instead of making it available for free as in previous editions.

It is understandable as Cambodia is not a rich country and the organisers are trying to recoup the investments in the Games but one can expect the future organisers to follow in their footsteps.

Despite the niggling problems, I am sure the organisers will try their level best to handle the influx of guests and athletes to the SEA Games.

It is not easy to meet everyone’s expectations and I am sure the hosts will do their best to leave a good SEA Games legacy behind.

After all, they have waited 60 years to get the Games to the country.

Cambodia had actually been slated to host the 1963 edition of the then SEAP Games but had to drop out due to political difficulties and lack of financial resources.

On May 5, a 60-year dream will come true.

Let’s just hope it does not turn out to be a nightmare.