Members of the Cambodia contingent hold their national flags during the opening ceremony of the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on May 12, 2022. (Photo by Ye Aung THU / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — All athletes and coaches of the participating nations will no longer spend on food and accommodation as host country Cambodia waived collecting fees in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games, which opens in May.
The Philippine Olympic Committee lauded the generosity of the Cambodia SEA Games Organizing Committee as permanent Vice President Dr. Thong Khon, who is also the president of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) and Tourism Minister of Cambodia, announced the development in a letter dated Tuesday sent to all 11 NOCs.
“This is a very significant development because it means a lot in terms of expenses Team Philippines will incur during the Games,” Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said on Wednesday.
“We thank Cambodia for putting its best foot forward in its goal to successfully host the SEA Games for the first time,” he added.
The letter of Khon stated: “Under the wise and respectable guidance of His Excellency Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Camsoc will no longer charge any food and accommodation fees to the participating NOCs of the 32nd SEA Games.”
“This decision and leadership by Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen further affirms the Kingdom of Cambodia’s commitment to hosting our regional sports family and international guests in a neighborly environment of solidarity and friendship,” he wrote.
SEA Games hosts normally charge a flat rate of $50 per athlete or coach—inclusive of food and accommodation—although some hotels charge $180 for twin sharing.
Team Philippines is composed of 840 athletes and 300 coaches who are participants in 38 sports in Cambodia.
The POC has earmarked P250 million for the SEA Games preparation, training, and participation, saving from the waived food and accommodation fees for the athletes and coaches.
The national teams will be traveling to Cambodia in batches based on their competition schedule starting next month.
Cambodia is expecting more than 12,000 athletes, coaches, and staff in the SEA Games it is hosting from May 5 to 17 with capital Phnom Penh as the main hub (Morodok Techo National Stadium, Olympic National Stadium, and Chroy Changvar International Convention and Exhibition Centre) and the provinces of Kep, Kampot, Preah Sihanouk and Siem Reap as satellite venues.