Struggling Cambodia rises and shines with Games

THE Angkor Wat may be the first thing that comes to mind when one talks about Cambodia, but there is much more to the country than the 900-year-old temple.

It’s a fascinating country of many facets, where the ultra-modern rubs shoulders with the ancient.

Modern buildings can be seen besides modest, run-down establishments while shiny new landmarks stand beside the ruins of the ancient Khmer dynasty.

The Cambodian taxis – or tuk tuks – weave in and around Mercedes Benz and Porsches on roads that are ultra-modern in some places and pot-holed in others.

It’s a real study of contrasts.

But don’t be fooled. Cambodia is catching up with the times.

The organisation of the SEA Games for the first time signals the country’s intention to be taken seriously in the region.

Huge sporting events always bring limelight, business and economic growth.

With the general elections coming up in July, Prime Minister Hun Sen could also do with winning the hearts and minds of his people.

The capital city of Phnom Penh has been transformed specifically for the biennial Games, and the stadiums are a spectacle to behold.

The Morodok Techo Sports Complex, which houses the 60,000-capacity Morodok Techo National Stadium, sit partly on what used to be a huge lake.

It is a modern multipurpose sports facility of international standard which cost US$200mil (RM880mil).

The luxuriously designed Chroy Changvar Convention Centre was built to hold most of the martial arts competitions. It is part of the Chroy Changvar Satellite City which is planned to be a major commercial centre, and a small ultra-modern city on its own.

It’s quite impressive what the Cambodians have done.

When they agreed to host the Games for the first time ever, there were doubts whether they could pull it off.

How were they going to afford it? Could they organise the biggest sporting event in the region without any hitches?

With some financial backing from China, they are on the road to success.

We are at the halfway stage of the Games now and, although there were issues like in every other big sporting event, the organisers have done well to overcome all problems.

The Games Village remains a sticking point. There is not enough space to house all the athletes and about 400 of the 600 Malaysian athletes are having to make do with accommodations in hotels outside.

The media had to deal with issues such as poor internet connectivity and lack of proper place to work in venues such as Chroy Changvar and the Morodok Techo badminton hall.

Still, the competitions have been going on as smoothly as can be hoped.

And when the closing ceremony comes around – and it may be as impressive as the opening – we may get to hear the famous exhortation – “This is the best Games ever”.