Bun Rany, wife of Prime Minister Hun Sen, will preside over the 2011 WOVD Standing Volleyball World Cup. Reuters

BUN Rany, wife of Prime Minister  Hun Sen, will preside over the opening ceremony of the 2011 WOVD Standing Volleyball World Cup, which is set to run from July 23 to 29 at Olympic Stadium’s indoor hall.

“The organisers were honoured when the First Lady presided over the historic 2009 WOVD World Cup and watched Cambodia defeat Pol-and in the opening match,” CNVLD secretary-general Christopher Minko said.

“Her return to this event is a hugely symbolic gesture reflecting the importance, pride and esteem with which athletes with disabilities in Cambodia, and the world, are held by the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

“As First Lady and President of the Cambodian Red Cross, Lok Chum Teav Dr Bun Rany Hun Sen has a distinguished history of providing ass-istance to, and raising awareness of, disability issues in Cambodia.

“Her work with young children with disabilities has been espec-ially noteworthy.”

Bun Rany was recognised as the National Champion for the United Nations Secretary-General’s Joint Plan of Action for Women’s and Children’s Health.

This plan is aimed at fostering Cambodia to accomplish Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 by 2015, which focus on improvement in the maternal and child health care in the Kingdom.

The Local Organising Committee of the World Cup, the Cambodian national standing volleyball team and the World Organisation for Volleyball Disabled (WOVD) have extended their sincere gratitude to Bun Rany for accepting the invitation to officially launch one of the largest and the most dynamic sporting events hosted by Cambodia, which is being held for the third time in a row in Phnom Penh.