The 32nd Southeast Asian Games held in beautiful Cambodia

April 26, 2023

“It is about more than just sports. Nearly ten thousand foreigners will compete, but many more will be here as supporters and fans,” Hun Sen said.

The 32nd Southeast Asian Games held in Cambodia

Ta Prohm temple

I am so excited at the fact the Southeast Asian Games will take place in the country I call my home. My beloved Cambodia.

From the 5th of May to the 17th of May the region’s best athletes will compete in some of the country’s most beautiful surroundings.

Most events will take place in the capital city of Phnom Penh but there are five host venues in total.

Phnom Penh

Siem Reap

Sihanoukville

Kampot

One of the most spectacular places is the World Heritage Site of Angkor Wat.

Historic success.

The boats

As the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and the 12th ASEAN Para Games approaches. Many officials are very excited.

The Kingdom has waited 64 years to host the biennial multi-sports extravaganza. So many are hoping this May will end with a huge historic success.

As nearly ten thousand foreigners will compete at the upcoming games. But many more will be here as supporters and fans.

Cambodia 2023

40 sports have been approved for 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia.

Brunei, Vietnam and Laos included 21, 32 and 29 sports respectively when they first hosted the Games.

This year’s Games in Vietnam will also see 40 sports being competed.

“Cambodia has waited for 64 years to be able to host the SEA Games 2023, and we are committed to ensuring that our hosting of this regional multi-sport event will be successful,” Hun Sen said.

The 40 approved sports are –

Athletics, aquatics, badminton, basketball, boxing, billiards, cycling, canoe and rowing, chess, dance sports, fencing, football, golf, gymnastics, hockey, judo, karate, Muay, petanque, sailing, Sepak Takraw, soft tennis, tennis, table tennis, taekwondo, Triathlon, volleyball, wrestling, weightlifting, Wushu, Arnis, body building, E-sports, floorball, Jiujitsu, Jetski, kick boxing, Kun Bokator, Vovinam, and Martial Arts Korea.

The participating countries are –

(Southeast Asian Games Federation)

Brunei
Cambodia (Host)
East Timor
Indonesia
Laos
Malaysia
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Vietnam

The torch

On Tuesday 21st of March, King Norodom Sihamoni graciously lit the 2023 SEA games torch. Using the secret flame then passing the flame to the torch.

This maraculous event took place at magnificent Angkor Wat.

This is to mark the start of the torch relay for the 32nd SEA Games.

The date deliberately coincided with the equinox in which the sunrise aligns with the central spire of Angkor Wat, a phenomenon which occurs twice a year.

The following day, the torch left Cambodia to tour the 10 Southeast Asian nations participating in the game.

The torch relay

The top of the torch was designed to reflect the symbol of the Rumduol (Khmer: រំដួល) The Kingdom of Cambodia’s national fragrant flowe.

The height of the torch is 75 cm and weighs slightly over one kilogram.

It is a gold plated colour as this shows that Kingdom of Cambodia and its people have risen to the top.

The design on the handle of the torch is filled with multiple Kbach Chan.

These are connected together to signify the unity in achieving peace and success for the country and South East Asia community.

Below is the list of the torch relay run dates in each country:

24th March 1.Vietnam

27th March 2.Philippines

1st April 3.Indonesia

4th April 4.East Timor

11th April 5.Malaysia

15th April 6.Singapore

17th April 7.Thailand

21st April 8.Myanmar

25th April 9.Laos

This is a very high-profile occasion for Cambodia.

Holding an event like this is amazing for Cambodia. especially due to its very heartbreaking history.

Cambodia’s history is the reason why I decided to call this amazing country my home.

Minister of Tourism Thong Khon – who also serves as permanent vice-president of the national committees for organising the 32nd SEA Games and 12th ASEAN Para Games (CAMSOC-CAMAPGOC) – affirmed that Cambodia’s preparations have been making good progress and the committees fully expect the Kingdom will be well-positioned to succeed as hosts. Says the Phnom Penh post.

I get to watch them build the areas every day as I walk my dogs to the riverfront. I also get to talk to many of the people organising the events.

Development and preparation

Following the host selection announcement, Prime Minister Hun Sen approved the final design of the game’s main stadium.

During a state visit by Hun Sen to Beijing in May 2014, China’s leader Xi Jinping promised to fund the construction of the main stadium of the new multi-purpose sports complex in the Satellite City of Phnom Penh in Khan Chroy Jong Va.

The 60,000-seat main stadium, which is estimated to cost about ៛157 million was built by a Chinese construction firm, with a Chinese grant covering the entire project.

A multipurpose arena, the Morodok Techo National Sports Complex will house an Olympic swimming pool, an outdoor football pitch, a running track, tennis courts and dormitories for athletes.

Development and preparation in Kampot

Kampot will be hosting the traditional boat races from the 13th of May until the 16th of May.

The Traditional Boat Race (TBR), is also known as dragon boat racing in many parts of the world.

Traditional Boat Race (TBR) involves short races in boats painted to resemble a dragon.

In the SEA Games, each boat is powered by crews of either six or 12 rowers, supported by a steersperson, who issues commands to the paddlers, and a drummer.

These entail –

Men’s TBR 5 crews (U24) 250m

Men’s TBR 5 crews (U24) 500m

Men’s TBR 5 crews (U24) 800m

Men’s TBR 12 crews (U24) 250m

Men’s TBR 12 crews (U24) 500m

Men’s TBR 12 crews (U24) 800m

Men’s TBR 12 crews (Open) 250m

Men’s TBR 12 crews (Open) 500m

Men’s TBR 12 crews (Open) 800m

Women’s TBR 3 crews (U24) 250m

Mixed TBR 12 crews (U24) 250m

Mixed TBR 12 crews (U24) 500m

Mixed TBR 12 crews (U24) 800m

Hence, I am lucky as every day

As I walk the dogs to the riverfront. I get to watch all the preperations.

Which allows me to take some photographs too. That’s if the dogs are not barking at me to throw the sticks in the river.

I also clean the beach whilst I am playing with the dogs. As I love to help people and animals.

I have had the pleasure of talking to many of the different experts in their fields. Who has been helping to train the Cambodian national team?

This lovely man below in the dark blue top has had them doing hardcore exercising every morning.

You should see their faces. They are not always happy exercising so hard in 33-degree heat. But, that just proves the determination of Cambodians.

Kampot

Building the start

Usually, in Cambodia every year we have boats races. This is during the water festival ion November.

The water festival or Bon Oum Touk. Locals flock from across the country for three days to the capital Phnom Penh. To watch the colourful boat races on the Tonle Sap river.

The water festival follows the Buddhist calender. The event falls on the full moon of the month of kadeuk ( The eleventh month of the solar calender.)

This full moon is the Harvest moon and is belived to deliver bountiful rice crops.

The royal water festival celebrate a rare and natural phenomenon known as the reversal of the Tonle Sap river. In Novemebr at the end of the annual monssomn the tonle sapo reaches its maximum size.

River boat races mean a lot to Cambodians. So, I am sure this years SEA games will be a moment that will not be forgotten for many years to come.

Angkor Wat will host the marathon and road race

But Angkor Wat’s part is not done yet.

The World Heritage Site, situated just outside the town of Siem Reap, will also host the marathon, the 20km walk, and the road cycling race.

I ran the Seam Reap half marathon not long after my brain damage. I wanted to raise money to help Cambodia in many different ways that I could. Especially the children and animals. As many people helped me when I needed it. So it was my time to pay it forward.

The Kulen Mountains surrounding Siem Reap, will also provide the backdrop for mountain biking.

Ticketing, Broadcasting and Accommodations

On 31st of March Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen announced all tickets for the Southeast Asian Games will be free – free tickets. This will be for both Cambodians and foreigners.

But the fans must book the ticket before each match to watch inside the stadium.

Also international broadcasters will not be charged for live television rights to cover the 608 events in 37 sports on offer.

“We spent millions of U.S. dollars and we have spent many years to organize this event; therefore, how can we sell tickets to our own people? Said Hun Sen.

Cambodia will also fully cover spending on food and accommodation services for sport delegations.

Delegates from all 11 countries participating in the SEA Games and the ASEAN Para Games were not required to pay $50 per person per day as had been the case with previous hosts.

The decision to cover the costs was to increase the warm friendships and lead to success as the host of the first SEA Games in history.

The sports

Sea games Cambodia

Aquatics Diving Swimming Finswimming Water polo Athletics Badminton Basketball 3×3 Basketball Basketball Billiards Boxing Chess Xiangqi Ouk chaktrang Cricket

Cycling Mountain cycling Road cycling Dancesport Esports Endurance race Fencing Floorball Football Golf Gymnastics Aerobic Artistic

Hockey Field hockey Indoor hockey Jet ski Judo Karate Martial arts Arnis Ju-jitsu Kickboxing Kun bokator Kun Khmer Vovinam Obstacle race Pétanque

Pencak silat Sailing Sepak takraw Soft tennis Table tennis Taekwondo Tennis Traditional boat race Triathlon Volleyball Beach Volleyball Volleyball Weightlifting Wrestling Wushu Demonstration sports Teqball

Teqball

Teqball will also feature as a demonstration event.

Alongside the 47 official sports at the SEA Games 2023.

Teqball will also feature as a demonstration event. The football-based game – played on a specially-curved table of similar dimensions to the table tennis version.

Sees players rally a ball back and forth using any part of the body (except arms and hands) until a point is won.

Played in a singles or doubles format, a number of world-class footballers have been attracted to the game, including teqball ambassador Ronaldinho.

The Brazilian World Cup-winner and Olympic bronze medallist describes Teqball as his passion.

Having been added to the programmes of the postponed Sanya 2021 Asian Beach Games, taking place this year.

Also the 2023 Kraków-Małopolska European Games in Poland from 21 June to 2 July.

The sport has also set its sights on potential Olympic inclusion.

SEA Games Cambodia 2023 schedule

Calendar

Cambodia 2023 runs from Friday 5 May until Wednesday 17 May. Some team events start ahead of the Opening Ceremony on Saturday 29 April.

The 12th ASEAN Para Games will run from Saturday 3 to Friday 9 June 2023 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The schedule -

The schedule

Opening ceremony

●

Event competitions

Gold medal events

Closing ceremony

April/May 2023		April		May																	Events
April/May 2023		29 Sat	30 Sun	1 Mon	2 Tue	3 Wed	4 Thu	5 Fri	6 Sat	7 Sun	8 Mon	9 Tue	10 Thu	11 Fri	12 Sat	13 Sun	14 Mon	15 Tue	16 Thu	17 Wed	Events
Ceremonies								OC												CC
Athletics									4		11	8	10	7	7						47
Aquatics	Diving										1	1	1	1							4
	Finswimming														8	8	8				24
	Swimming								6	7	7	6	7	7							40
	Water Polo														●	●	●	●	●		2
Badminton											●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	5		5
Basketball	5×5 Basketball											●	●	●	●	●	●	1	1		2
Basketball	3×3 Basketball								●	2											2
Billiards										●	●	3	2	●	2	●	2				9
Boxing									●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	17				17
Chess	Xiangqi														1	1	1	1	●		4
Chess	Ouk chaktrang	●	●	●	●	●	●		4	●	●	●									4
Cricket		●	●	●	●	●	●		●	1	●	●	1	1	●	1	●	1	2		8
Cycling	Road Race													2	1	1					4
Cycling	Mountain Biking								2	1	2										5
Dancesport																			2		2
Esports									2	2	2	3	1	1	1	1	2	1			16
Fencing														2	2	2	2	2	2		6
Floorball														●	●	●	●	●	2		2
Football		●	●	●	●	●	●		●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	1	1		2
Golf											●	●	2	●	●	2					4
Gymnastics	Artistic								2	6	2	6									16
Gymnastics	Aerobic															3	2				5
Hockey	Field											●	●	●	●	●	●	●	2		2
Hockey	Indoor			●	●	●	●		●	2											2
Jet ski																●	●	1	5		6
Judo																2	5	5	1		13
Karate									6	9	2										17
Martial Arts	Arnis															4	4	4	●		12
	Jujitsu						3		5	5											13
	Kickboxing															●	●	2	4		6
	Kun bokator						6		●	●	14	●	●								20
	Kun Khmer								2	●	●	●	●	17							19
	Vovinam								7	8	7	7									29
Obstacle race						●	●		2	2											4
Pencak silat									●	●	6	●	16								22
Pétanque									2	2	2	1	1	1	●	2					11
Sailing				●	●	●	●		●	●	9										9
Sepak takraw									1	2	3	3	7	●	●	2	●	●	2		20
Soft tennis									1	2	2	1	1								7
Table tennis												●	●	2	●	●	3	●	2		7
Taekwondo															8	6	6	4			24
Tennis									●	●	●	2	●	●	●	3	2				7
Traditional boat race																5	4		4		13
Triathlon / Duathlon / Aquathlon									3	2	2										7
Volleyball	Indoor					●	●		●	●	1	●	●	●	●	●	1				2
Volleyball	Beach													●	●	●	●	●	2		2
Weightlifting																3	4	3	3		13
Wrestling																	10	10	10		30
Wushu													4	4	14						22
Demonstration Event
Teqball									●	●	5										5

The edition of the schedule was published by National Olympic Committee of Cambodia.

All times and dates use Cambodian Standard Time (UTC+7)

Thailand’s kit is made of recycled plastic

The jerseys worn by Thai athletes at the SEA Games Cambodia 2023 are made of recycled plastic bottles. Revealed Thiti Pluckchaoom, managing director of kit manufacturer Grand Sport.

He said the initiative raises awareness about global warming and mitigates waste. These shirts are personalised for athletes in different sports. They are also providing an environmentally-friendly memento of the Games.

The concept of “Beyond The Spirit, Beyond Sportswear”, parallels the athlete spirit.

This is also shown throughout their careers, not only when competing.

Takeaway

My website has been built with the intention to be able to fulfil my dreams and help you fulfil yours.

I have many dreams and my biggest right now is to help the animals in Cambodia.

There are some great books to read if you would like to know more about Cambodia.

The first book is by a Cambodian author. Chenda Keo

He discovered that human trafficking was a serious social problem that needed to be urgently and effectively addressed.

He began his work by interviewing 17 trafficked children. Surprisingly he found that none of these children considered themselves trafficking victims.

My friend also runs an amazing NGO called M’Lop Tapang which helps over 5,000 street children and their families.

The second book was written by my lovely friend Kate. Who has sadly recently passed, due to an illness.

A book about human trafficking: Human Trafficking in Cambodia by Chenda Keo

A book about Cambodia: Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

A book about the history of Cambodia: A History of Cambodia by David Chandler

A book from a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist: Cambodia’s Curse: The Modern History of a Troubled Land by Joel Brinkley

A book about a younger trained as a soldier for the Khmer Rouge: First They Killed My Father

Chantel Prince

Hello, I am Chantel! As the creator of Finding Chantel, I love finding ways to make life more fulfilling, especially when it comes to our daily routines, habits, and well-being.