A team of four athletes comprised of two wrestlers, one runner and one judoka have been invited to represent Cambodia at the 2013 Francophone Games (Jeux de la Francophonie), which is being held in the southeastern French city of Nice from September 6-16.
However, the planned trip has been met with controversy after revelations that the athletes will not travel with their coaches but under the supervision of three delegates, who are charged with ensuring the government-funded excursion does not turn into a holiday.
An official at the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia told the Post that the competitors included SEA Games gold-medal-winning wrestler Chov Sotheara, her male teammate Kang Den Piseth, judoka Kim Sarom, a SEA Games bronze medallist, and middle distance runner Kieng Samorn, who appeared at the 2012 London Olympics.
The delegates, all from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport’s department of sport, include director Ouk Sethycheat, vice director Oun Syavuth and deputy general secretary Bou Chum Serey.
Officials at the Ministry were unavailable for comment on the decision to snub the coaches in France.
