The 29th edition of the Angkor International Half Marathon 2024, held on Sunday morning in Siem Reap, concluded successfully. This year’s event broke participation records, attracting the largest number of runners since the race began it began in 1996.

According to Thong Khon, president of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC), this year’s race saw an impressive 14,370 participants, marking a 40 percent increase compared to the previous year. 

The diverse group included 11,025 Cambodian runners and 3,345 international participants, with 87 countries represented. 

The event was particularly popular among runners from the UK, France, Australia, Japan, the US, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand.

This year's turnout set a new record, surpassing the 1996 figure by a staggering 28 times, a testament to the growing popularity and prestige of the Angkor Half Marathon as an international sporting event.

Prime Minister Hun Manet, who attended the event as its honorary guest and personally participated in the 5-kilometre fun run, praised the efforts of the organising committee and all those involved for making the event a smooth and successful experience. 

He described the Angkor Wat Temple complex as “a unique heritage of humanity” and highlighted the pride Cambodia takes in hosting athletes from around the world for this annual event.

Speaking before he fired the starting gun for the 21km blue-ribbon event, Prime Minister Hun Manet emphasised that “Angkor is not only a symbol of our ancient history but also a reflection of our country's modern achievements. This year, we’ve broken a new participation record with over 14,000 runners from 87 countries.”

He also noted the significance of the event as a symbol of peace and political stability in the Kingdom, bringing together professional and amateur athletes from various countries. “The participation of so many athletes is clear evidence of Cambodia's peaceful and stable environment,” he added.

Vath Chamroeun, secretary-general of the NOCC and secretary of state at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, also commended the smooth organisation of the event. He highlighted the positive impact it had on local businesses, particularly hotels which saw an increase in revenue from both domestic and international tourists.

"The city of Siem Reap was buzzing with excitement over the past two to three days. All hotels experienced a surge in bookings, as both local and international visitors flocked here to participate in the event,” he said.

“This success not only demonstrates the smoothness of the event but also the peace and enjoyment that came with it,” he added.

In terms of technical organisation, Chamroeun reported that all races — including the 21km half marathon, 10km race, 5km run and the 3km family fun run — went off without incident. All participants completed the courses with smiles, and the top runners, particularly in the elite 21km and 10km categories, recorded impressive times.

One standout moment from the event was Manet’s participation in the 5km race. He noted the prime minister’s enthusiasm and energy, as he completed the run without stopping, engaging with fellow runners and spreading positive energy, which added to the event’s vibrant atmosphere.

Looking ahead, he expressed optimism about the future of the Angkor Half Marathon.

Athletes from 87 countries participated in the 29th Angkor Wat International Half Marathon 2024. STPM

“We hope that the success of this year will inspire even more people to join next year’s event. We will continue working to improve the quality of the event, the safety and security of participants, and increase the attraction of international tourists,” he said.

“Although this year’s organisation was successful, we are committed to further enhancing the event in the coming years. We aim to improve the event’s quality and the safety of participants, as well as attract even more international visitors,” he added.

As the Angkor Half Marathon continues to grow, Cambodia’s reputation as a top destination for both sports tourism and cultural heritage is solidifying. The 2024 race will undoubtedly be remembered as a significant milestone in the event’s illustrious history.