THE National Olympic Committee of Cambodia will host the Forum for National Olympic Committees from Southeast Asia and East Asia in Siem Reap on March 26-27.

The main thrust of the forum, being attended by representatives from more than 25 countries in the region, is the presentation of the Olympic Solidarity/Olympic Council of Asia Quadrennial Plan for the 2013-2016 Olympic cycle.

The Siem Reap initiative will be the second such forum this year following a meeting for Central, South and West Asian NOCs in Sri Lanka on March 22-23.

“This is a great opportunity for member nations to review their progress and their standing in the Olympic Solidarity Movement. The NOCC is honoured to host an assembly of such eminence and significance,” NOCC  Secretary General Vath Chamroeun told the Post yesterday.

“The agenda on both days is wide ranging. There is plenty of room and opportunities for NOCs to seek bilateral and group discussions on subjects of mutual importance,” he added.

After a tour of the ancient Angkor Wat temple upon their arrival on March 25, the delegates will spend the first day of the forum dealing with various programmes and Q&A sessions on athletes, coaches and management, apart from a segment on promotion of Olympic values.

Tourism Minister and NOCC President Thong Khon will also entertain the delegates to a gala dinner on March 26.

The second and final day of the forum will be completely taken up by discussions on Olympic Solidarity subsidies and complementary programmes, financial issues and continental projects.

The wrap-up session has been dedicated to OCA presentations on two upcoming multi-sport events this year – the fourth Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Incheon, South Korea, from June 29 to July 6, and the Second Asian Youth Games in Nanjing, China, from August 16 to 24.

Established in 1981 with the aim of helping all National Olympic Committees, the Olympic Solidarity Commission pivots its effort in addressing the needs of the less developed or developing members to keep pace with change and demand in promotion of sports.

For Asian NOCs, the Sri Lankan and Siem Reap back-to-back forums come as a significant first since OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah took over as the chairman of the Olympic Solidarity Commission last year.