The Cambodian National Volleyball League (Disabled) is well poised to set an unprecedented record when it comes to the WOVD World Cup. Having achieved an historic hat-trick in 2011 of hosting this prestigious biennial event in Phnom Penh, the CNVLD is gearing up for the fourth edition in a row during December this year.

“Ours is the only bid and we are ready and eager once again to stage the World Cup which the people of Cambodia are so passionate about. We have the full backing of the world body and all its member countries,” CNVLD Secretary Christopher Minko told the Post yesterday.

“This will be a very special World Cup. For the first time we are organising two elite level sporting events back-to-back at the Olympic Stadium – the eight-nation WOVD Volleyball World Cup from December 22 to 29 and the WOVD Beach Volleyball World Cup involving 16 countries from December 30 to January 2, [2013].

“The world has come to respect and regard our organisational skills. Combined with this efficiency is our on court success of being World No 2 behind Germany,” he added.

While the coast is clear for CNVLD to go ahead with preparations, the WOVD has made it conditional upon the organisers to resurface the Olympic Stadium floor to international specifications for the mega event.

“We organised a highly successful 2011 World Cup without any corporate support. Our efforts were boosted by the support we got from Cambodia’s First Lady Bun Rany Hun Sen. I hope this time around, the corporate sector steps up to its social responsibility and backs a sporting venture that brings so much goodwill and benefits to Cambodia.”

The CNVLD is also noting, with dismay, the lack of sponsorship from the country’s hospitality sector which has been among the prime beneficiaries of the World Cup.

There was an outpouring of support for the Cambodian national team with a crowd of around 5,000 packing the Olympic Stadium’s indoor hall to watch the 2011 final, which Cambodia lost 3-1 against Germany.

“The momentum is with us. We will not rest until we are No 1. We want to show the world that we are as good on court playing the game as we are off [court] organising it,” said Minko.

Cambodia, which has the highest number of amputees per capita in the world, first hosted the World Cup in 2007, earning a third place finish. In the next edition in 2009, Cambodia slipped to fourth but recovered well last year with an impressive runners-up result.