NOCC President Thong Khon speaks to the body's General Assembly at the Morodok Techo National Sports Complex today.
Incumbent National Olympic Committee of Cambodia President Thong Khon was re-elected unopposed for the 2018 to 2022 mandate at the annual General Assembly held at the Morodok Techo National Sports Complex today as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Tea Banh laid out the road map towards the 2023 SEA Games that Cambodia will be hosting for the first time.
Thanking the delegates for their overwhelming support and faith in his leadership, the NOCC President and Minister of Tourism reappointed Vath Chamroeun for the term as secretary-general, hailing the dynamic role the top administrator and former wrestling Olympian has played in raising the country’s sporting profile.
“Continuity is vital for building momentum as we stake our national pride on the smooth and successful hosting of the SEA Games and to achieve the strategic goals we are setting out for in the next five years,” NOCC President Khon said.
Representatives from 39 affiliated federations took part in the electoral process to finalise the new executive committee. The new executive board for the next term comprises Thong Khon as President; General Sao Sokha as First Vice President; Ouk Sothycheat as Second Vice President; and Gordon Tang as Third Vice President. Vath Chamroeun remains Secretary-General; General Tae Mean is Deputy Secretary-General; and General Ly Kosal is Treasurer. The Executive Committee is made up of Mak Sitha, Dr Sophean, Chea Bora and Meach Sophana.
Following the resignations of Nuth Saan and Rat Sokhon, who served as members of the previous panel, their places were filled by Chea Bora and Meach Sophana.
Medal projections
After a welcome speech by the NOCC President and an address by a representative from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, came an hour-long pitch on the salient features of the master plan and the government decree that confirmed Cambodia’s hosting rights for the biennial regional sporting showpiece that the Kingdom has twice in its history had to relinquish.
Deputy Prime Minister Banh, named by Prime Minister Hun Sen to head the SEA Games Organizing Committee (CAMSOC), took the Assembly through the master plan towards the biggest logistical challenge ever undertaken in the field of sport as the Kingdom prepares to host the 32nd SEA Games.
“I highly appreciate the efforts of the NOCC, the Ministry of Sport, national federations and organisations related to sport. They all promote Cambodian sport to the world. We must work together. We must keep our national prestige in mind,” Defence Minister Banh said.
The new administration rolled out its strategic plan for the next four years in the run-up to 2023, which includes taking action against federations which are either underperforming or dormant. To improve efficiency, national federations will have to cooperate closely with the Ministry of Sport and CAMSOC, while more sponsors will be found for activities and sporting events. The National Games will be now organised every two years instead of annually.
Following a series of meetings with the national federations involved in both Olympic and non-Olympic disciplines over the past few months, the NOCC, in consultation with the Ministry of Sport, presented to the Assembly their medal expectations for the next two editions of the SEA Games leading up to the home Games in 2023. More medals are targeted for the 2019 Manila Games and the 2021 edition in Vietnam, and the goal of bringing home at least one medal in the 2018 and 2021 Asian Games has been set.
Listing 34 disciplines, the 2019 Manila Games target has been set at 22 medals, while for the 2021 edition in Vietnam the bar has been raised again to 56.
For the 2023 Games, the country is aiming for 96 medals.
Camsoc composition
The composition of Camsoc was also outlined to the Assembly, with Deputy Prime Minister Banh named as President and NOCC President Khon as Permanent Vice President.
Camsoc’s Vice Presidents are Minister of Economics and Finance Aun Pornmoniroth; Minister of Education, Youth and Sport Dr Hang Chuon Naron; Minister of Culture and Fine Art, Mam Bun Heng; Dr Phoeurng Sackona, Minister of Health and the representative from the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Tourism; and Khoung Sreng, the Governor of Phnom Penh.
Vath Chamroeun was named the General-Secretary of Camsoc, with Ouk Sethycheat, Director General of the Sports Department at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and the representative from the Finance and Defence Ministries as Deputy General-Secretary.
Meanwhile, as many as 40 national federations were thankful to the President of the Cambodian Sailing Federation and a Vice President of the NOCC, Gordon Tang, for donating a laptop each, valued in all at about $35,000, to help them strengthen their administrative efficiency.
Although the well regarded sailing enthusiast and sports benefactor could not make it to the General Assembly due to prior engagements, the floor widely appreciated his generosity.
As promised by him before last year’s SEA Games, Tang also donated cash rewards totalling $25,000 to all 17 medallists in Kuala Lumpur and gold medal winning coaches.
