The athletes delegation of the Cambodia Obstacle Sports Federation pose for a group photo. COSF
The National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports have authorised the emergency formation of a new National Sports Federation. The establishment of the Obstacle Sports Federation of Cambodia was required in order to include the sport in the 32nd SEA Games 2023, which Cambodia will host in May.
The newly formed federation was announced by Ouk Sithicheat, director-general of the education ministry’s Directorate General of Sports.
“The formation of the Obstacle Sports Federation was very necessary. The Cambodian SEA Games Organising Committee (CAMSOC) has included it as one of the 37 sports at this year’s games, so we needed to establish the federation as soon as possible to be able to operate in accordance with the rules o the sport. We could host obstacle sports without a governing body,” he said.
The Obstacle Sports Federation of Cambodia was established by decision No. 01 dated January 3. The federation held a general assembly to elect members of its executive committee on January 13. The assembly was attended by Sithicheat and Tem Meun, deputy secretary-general of the NOCC.
The federation has appointed 13 members to its executive committee. Buonhing Sothya will serve as president, while Casey Barnett, Dy Sovanna, Jim Kimhuy, Khy Sophea and Khchao Sopheap have assumed the roles of vice-presidents. Soth Radako will serve as chief of finance, which Thin Vichet will become secretary-general.
Sithicheat urged the new executive committee to prepare its a statute that is in accordance with that of the International Obstacle Federation.
“I hope you will all work together and make this a success, because there is very little time left ahead of the SEA Games,” he said.
“This will be a difficult task, but it will be worth it,” he added.
Sothya pledged to do his best to lead the young federation as it developed both the infrastructure and the human resources to prepare for national and international competitions.
“This is especially true when it comes to the upcoming games, which Cambodia has been waiting 64 years to host,” he said.
Vichet told The Post that the new federation currently has 16 national athletes – six of them women –and 2 coaches. The athletes have backgrounds in wrestling, hiking and athletics.
He said the federation has not yet named a side for the games, and intends to hold pre-games trial events which test the skills of competitors and officials.
“The Philippines currently hold the presidency of the Obstacle Sports Federation of Asia, and we are planning to work with them to host a pre-games event in the third week of March,” he added.
