Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni (2nd R) lights the torch with a candle lit from the sun’s rays as Prime Minister Hun Sen (R) looks on during a ceremony prior to the 32nd SEA Games at Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap province on March 21, 2023. The 2023 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) will be held from May 5 to 17 in Cambodia. (Photo by Ja Dina / AFP)
The opening and closing ceremonies of the upcoming 32nd SEA Games will be performed at an “Olympic level” standard while still being free for everyone who wishes to attend, according to Vath Chamroeun, secretary-general of the Cambodia SEA Games Organising Committee (CAMSOC).
He made the remarks while presiding over an April 22 training course on hospitality for presenters, held at the Ministry of National Defence.
“With the SEA Games, there are two points of great success: First, the opening and closing ceremonies, especially the opening ceremony. We have to hold the most amazing ceremony ever and do it at the Olympic level, not at the regional level as others have, and everyone will see for themselves this amazing aspect.
“The second success will be well-organized sports venues and smoothly-run competitions. Cambodia’s athletes have also trained hard and enhanced the level of quality in many sports for these games,” he said.
The April 22 training course was attended by about 500 volunteers. Speakers included Phat Vibolsopheak, deputy chairman of the protocol committee; Phan Yinyoura, deputy chief of protocol; and Tai Lida, permanent vice-president of CAMSOC protocol.
Chamroeun said that these two anticipated areas of success will now depend on the volunteers and their ability to work together in solidarity and have patience while undertaking their roles according to their respective skills.
He reiterated that the volunteers are the life’s blood of the games and vital to Cambodia’s success at hosting them. He said that if the volunteers don’t do their jobs, the games will be paralyzed.
Cambodia has over 6,000 volunteers, including workers from national sports federations. In total, including paid staff positions, there are nearly 10,000 people who will be working on the games in some capacity.
“These two points can only be successful if all of our volunteers do the work and provide quality service. The most important thing we want from this event is to earn a good reputation for Cambodia.
“We are promoting the honor of Cambodia, which has a good foundation, great beauty and deep cultural value to the world. That’s why [defense minister and CAMSOC president] Tea Banh instructed all the working groups to wholeheartedly cooperate and show internal solidarity to avoid all conflicts,” he added.
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