Overseas participation in the fifth Phnom Penh international half marathon coming under starter’s orders in front of the Royal Palace on May 31 is expected to touch a new high by the time the runners wend their way through a newly marked course.

The 21-kilometre charity run for men and women, which is second in the national calendar after the season opener in Sihanoukville two months ago, has already attracted 2,000 registrations involving 17 nationalities, expats and locals, but that number is likely to swell by hundreds by the time the runners are called into line.

The Phnom Penh run in support of the Kantha Bopha Children’s hospitals and other charitable causes, marks the confluence of three major commemorations – the birthday of Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, the World Environment Day and Olympic Day.

“We are encouraged by the steady stream of entries from overseas runners.

“We have changed the route of the half marathon this year to give the participants a unique experience of a long stretch of river side run against the backdrop of Mekong,” the secretary general of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia, Vath Chamroeun told the Post.

The newly marked-out course (right, supplied), takes the runners over the Cambodian-Japanese Friendship Bridge for the first time on their way up.

The runners will then turn back towards the Royal Palace for the finish line there by returning over the Cambodia-China Friendship Bridge.

The other added attractions are the 10-kilometre run for men and women and a 3-kilometre fun run for runners of all ages and athletic abilities.