Deputy Prime Minister Ke Kim Yan is to formally open the Olympic Solidarity/Olympic Council of Asia Regional Forum on May 6. Pha Lina
Deputy Prime Minister Ke Kim Yan will formally open the Olympic Solidarity/Olympic Council of Asia Regional Forum involving close to 100 delegates from 35 Central, Southeast and East Asian countries at the Sokha Hotel in Phnom Penh on May 6.
The news comes as enthusiasm grows for the Asian Games Fun Run the following day in the build-up to the continent’s biggest sporting spectacle, which this year is to be held in Jakarta and Palembang in Indonesia in August.
The Kingdom first hosted the regional gathering of National Olympic Committees (NOCs) in Siem Reap five years ago, and the return of the forum to the capital has been seen as a recognition of Cambodia’s organisational capabilities and a show of support for its drive towards hosting the 2023 SEA Games.
The key areas of discussion during the two-day forum will be the implementation of the principles of good governance, autonomy, structure, programs and partnership with the private sector to develop sport and strengthen the Olympic Movement
One of the main attractions this year is the Asian Games Fun Run, which is to be held as part of this regional initiative where presentations will be made on Olympic Solidarity Programmes, and the Youth Olympic Games in Argentina and the Asian Games in Indonesia.
Of greater significance will be a presentation from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Organizing Committee.
Olympic Solidarity will also release updates regarding International Olympic Committee programs for the 2017-2020 quadrennial.
As many as 90 delegates have so far registered online through the NOCC’s digital portal, boosting the efficiency of this new avenue, which was created less than a year ago.
“First of all it is a great honour for Cambodia to host this forum for the second time in five years,"noted Ken Gadaffi, NOCC expert/advisor and forum coordinator.
"We are proud to effectively use online registration of delegates for the first time ever. It reflects our capability in terms of human resources and technology development to manage high profile events as we take up our biggest challenge of rolling out the 2023 SEA Games.
“We have arranged a visit for all the delegates to the SEA Games hub, the Morodok Decho Sports Complex, to give them a real sense of our meticulous and massive preparations for the Games we are so proud to be hosting for the first time in the country’s history,” he added.
Smart support for fun run
Meanwhile, telecoms giant Smart Axiata has stepped forward to sponsor the Asian Games Fun Run in Phnom Penh, which is scheduled to be flagged off from Sokha Hotel, the venue of the Olympic Solidarity/Olympic Council of Asia Regional Forum, at 6am on Monday, May 7.
Around 1,000 runners, including national team athletes, students and members of the public, are expected to take part in this run over 3k and 5k over a course that will take them across the Chroy Changvar bridge.
Those wishing to take part in the fun run can register for free online using the NOCC digital platform.
“We want people from all walks of life to join this fun run and show their solidarity with Asia’s biggest sporting event. We are proud to be among the 34 cities, including for the first time Pyongyong, North Korea, to hold the run, which is to publicise and celebrate the world’s second biggest multi-discipline sporting event after the Olympic Games,” said NOCC secretary-general Vath Chamroeun.
