A view of the site at the National Sports Complex where new offices for the NOCC, including a Sports Medicine and Science Centre, are to be constructed. Photo by: Sreng Meng Srun

The newly re-elected President of the Olympic Council of Asia, Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al-Sabah, has approved in principle a request from the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia for financial assistance under Olympasia Project 3 to build a state of the art Sports Medicine and Science Centre in the heart of Phnom Penh.

The OCA chief reassured NOCC President Thong Khon and Secretary General Vath Chamroeun that they have the Council’s  fullest backing for the US$100,000 proposal during a meeting on the sidelines of the OCA General Assembly in Tokyo a week ago.

“The OCA is quite happy with the activities and programmes of the NOCC,” said Vath Chamroeun on Tuesday.

“We  successfully completed the Aquatics Centre in Kampot town with Olympasia Project 2 funding. This proposed [sports medicine] centre will be situated in the new NOCC headquarters being built at the National Sports Complex.”

However, the Secretary noted the OCA grant may not be enough to cover the total construction costs.

“We will work our resources to mobilise additional funds. The new centre will strengthen our capabilities in this most critical branch of sports and will also augment our human resource development,” added Vath Chamroeun.

The Cambodian delegation also took part in celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of Japanese sports. Away from the deliberations of the General Assembly, the NOCC Secretary also had a fruitful meeting with the President of the Japanese NOC, with bilateral cooperation in the field of sports topping the agenda.

“Cambodia and Japan have traditionally been strong allies in sports and we discussed ways and means of strengthening those links,” said Vath Chamroeun.