NOCC secretary-general Vath Chamroeun (front L) shakes hands with Beeline Arena manager Charles Julliard in front of other sports and arena officials after singing a memorandum of understanding on Friday, Feb. 08, 2013. Photograph: Sreng Meng Srun/Phnom Penh Post

In a big boost to the development of indoor games, the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia and the country’s first and only privately owned indoor sports facility, Beeline Arena, formalised a two-year Memorandum of Understanding on Friday.

The signing of the MoU, which is renewable and subject to an annual review, was completed at the arena in the presence of officials from several NOCC-affiliated federations, members of the media and stakeholders in Banzai, a local company that owns the facility, situated on the Chhroy Changvar peninsula.

NOCC secretary-general Vath Chamroeun and arena manager Charles Julliard affixed their signatures on the document, opening up for the benefit of indoor sports federations easy, affordable access to the international-standard facility, which can hold 2,000 spectators.

‘’This MoU is a significant first step in our effort to develop indoor sports. I am impressed by the quality infrastructure that has been put in place. It will be very helpful in our prepar-ations for major events like the SEA Games and the Asian Games,” Cham-  roeun told the Post.

Julliard noted that Beeline Arena shared “a common goal and vision” with the NOCC.

“We are happy to play our part,” he said.

The NOCC chose the comfort of the arena’s VIP lounge to set in motion one of their outdoor showpieces in the 2013 calendar.

The campaign for the third Phnom Penh International Half Marathon in June was kick-started with the introduction to the media of the NOCC’s organisational partner, Cambodia Dream, co-sponsor Cambrew and new title sponsor Unilab, who are actively involved in the running of the Manila marathon.

The third running the Phnom Penh road race, which marks Olympic Day and World Environment Day, is likely to be much bigger and better this year, according to Chamroeun, who laid out the organisational details.

‘“Access to information about all aspects of the event has been made easy this year with the setting-up of a new website,” he said, adding that Philippines-based Unilab would be the title sponsor of the half-marathon this year and for the next four years.

Unilab country manager in Cambodia Nestor Luis D Apuhin said: “Our aim is to promote an active, healthy lifestyle through events like these.” Apuhin also dropped a broad hint that one of the future targets could well be to turn the event into a full marathon.

Men and women of all ages and any level of competence can choose to run one of the four distances on offer – 21km for men and women, 10km for men and women and 5km and 3km fun runs for those seeking the joy of running.

 

To contact the reporter on this story: H S Manjunath at [email protected]