The National Olympic Committee of Cambodia and the Singapore National Olympic Council yesterday morning formally signed a historic agreement in the field of sports for greater co-operation between the two countries in promoting Olympic values, fair play and sporting excellence.

The agreement was initialed by SNOC President Tan Chuan Jin and his Cambodian counterpart Thong Khon at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Singapore yesterday morning with the International Olympic Committee Executive Council Member Ng Ser Miang countersigning as a witness for a three to six year pact Singapore and Cambodia regard as a big boost to the bilateral relationship between two fraternal Asean members.

Under the terms of the deal, the agreement will be in effect until December 31, 2020, with an open provision for another three year extension if both parties are willing.

Hailing the pact as a great step forward, NOCC President and Tourism Minister Thong Khon said with close co-operation between a sporting giant in the region like Singapore and a fast emerging nation as Cambodia, the vision of the future would be brighter on both sides.

“We are pleased to partner SNOC in an MOU to develop our sports teams and expertise together,” the NOCC Chief said.

The SNOC President Tan Chuan Jin, who is also the speaker of the Singapore Parliament, said the MOU signified opportunites present for bilateral co-operation in sports development and the progress made together as a region.

“We look forward to growing in tandem with our counterparts in NOCC” he said.

“Both NOCC and SNOC will place greater emphasis on good training and development of athletes and coaches and national federations will be encouraged to make co-ordinated efforts in lifting quality of training and competition,” noted NOCC Secretary-General Vath Chamroeun, who was part of the NOCC delegation.

The MoU creates a platform for exchange of visits, combined training between national teams and mutual visits by officials, trainers, judges, experts and scientists.

Both SNOC and NOCC have pledged in the MoU to vigorously pursue anti- doping initiatives and work for greater co-operation in sports medicine and sciences.

As hosts of multiple SEA Games and other major regional and international events, including the year ending multimillion-dollar WTA Finals, Singapore has the organisational experience and excellence that would be of vital significance to Cambodia as the Kingdom prepares to stage the 2023 SEA Games for the first time since its inception eight decades ago.