The Cambodian SEA Games Organising Committee (CAMSOC) regarded their plans as successful following the news that the Kingdom’s national martial art Bokator will be among the 40 sports contested at next year’s games.

The 40 sports for the regional event – to be held in Cambodia for the first time – were confirmed by the South East Games Federation (SEAGF) Council at the conclusion of its three-day meeting on April 10 in Siem Reap province.

CAMSOC secretary-general Vath Chamroeun told the Post: “This was our main objective from the beginning. It is a huge honour as hosts to have our national martial art included in the SEA Games. It was a successful campaign and our plans came to fruition after the council delegates threw their support behind its official inclusion.”

The General Secretariat of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia said the main focus right now is to make sure that the Kingdom is prepared to host the multisport event, in accordance with the government’s guidance.

“The meetings finished smoothly and now that our initial plans have been successfully completed, the next step is the preparation and organisation of our sport facilities, transportation, infrastructure and hospitality for the event. We still need support from participants and experienced host countries. In terms of our athletes and the events themselves, we are ready. Our efforts now will be directed to making sure that everything goes according to plans,” he added.

CAMSOC president Tea Banh – who is also Minister of National Defence – said Cambodia has waited for 64 years to be able to host this significant sporting event, and is committed to ensuring that the Kingdom’s hosting of the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games 2023 would be successful.

He told the Council that the government places great importance on the development of sports and the Olympic movement, and is prepared to do everything in its power to guarantee the games’ success.

Forty confirmed sports is the highest number of events to be confirmed for any nation hosting the games since 1977, although this year’s games in Vietnam will also see 40 sports. Brunei, Vietnam and Laos included 21, 32 and 29 sports respectively when they first hosted the Games.

Cambodia could still see an increase in the number if a request for Pencak Silat is accepted at the next games federation council meeting, expected to be held in Phnom Penh this June.

As is the norm, the compulsory sports of Athletics and Aquatics would lead the sports confirmed for Cambodia 2023. While Vietnam had dropped water polo from the aquatics discipline in Hanoi, it will make a return in Phnom Penh.

A total of 28 sports have been confirmed under Category II, which will see a mixture of Olympic, Asian as well as traditional sports.

The games will see the inclusion of three formats of chess, including Ok Chaktrong and Xiangxi.

Similarly for fans of multi-discipline races, triathlon, duathlon as well as aquathlon have been included.

While there will be no velodrome cycling events at the games, both the road race and mountain bike disciplines have been included.

In gymnastics, both the aerobic and artistic disciplines have been included, but there will be no place for rhythmic gymnastics.

Under Category III, the popular and rapidly growing e-Sports – together with jet ski – have been given the nod alongside Kun Bokator. Martial arts Korea will also make its debut at the Games.

Several sports including cricket, equestrian, pencak silat and the obstacle race have not been included and will have to wait for the next council meeting of the federation to learn their fate.

CONFIRMED SPORTS

CATEGORY I: Athletics (Track and Field, Marathon); 2. Aquatics (Swimming, Diving, Water Polo)

CATEGORY II: 3. Badminton, 4. Basketball (5x5 and 3x3), 5. Boxing, 6. Billiards, 7. Cycling (Road Race and MTB), 8. Canoe and rowing (inc Traditional Boat Race), 9. Chess (Ok Chaktrong, Asean and Xiangxi), 10. Dance Sports, 11. Fencing, 12. Football, 13. Golf, 14. Gymnastics (Aerobic and Artistic), 15. Hockey (inc Indoor), 16. Judo, 17. Karate, 18. Muay, 19. Petanque, 20. Sailing, 21. Sepak Takraw (inc Chinlone), 22. Soft Tennis, 23. Tennis, 24. Table Tennis, 25. Taekwondo WT, 26. Triathlon (Including Aquathlon and Duathlon), 27. Volleyball, 28. Wrestling, 29. Weightlifting, 30. Wushu

CATEGORY III: 31. Arnis, 32. BodyBuilding, 33. E-sports, 34. Floorball, 35. Jiu Jitsu, 36. Jetski, 37. KickBoxing, 38. Kun Bokator, 39. Vovinam, 40. Martial Arts Korea

In Sopheng