Minister of Tourism Thong Khon meets with Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki AI Saud of Saudi Arabia in Phnom Penh on October 4. MoT
Officials from the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) and the Cambodian SEA Games Organising Committee (CAMSOC) said the Kingdom benefited greatly from hosting the recent Olympic Council Asia (OCA) General Assembly.
The 41st OCA General Assembly was held in Phnom Penh on October 4, strengthening cooperation with the international community as Cambodia gears up to successfully host the 2023 SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games.
Having hosting the OCA General Assembly, NOCC secretary-general Vath Chamroeun said Cambodia had improved bilateral relations between the NOCC and the Olympic committees of other Asian countries.
Minister of Tourism and NOCC president Thong Khon met with the presidents of the Iranian and Saudi Arabian Olympic committees, both of whom expressed willingness to assist Cambodia.
“Hosting the OCA, with full support from our government, has been a great opportunity for Cambodia to showcase its potential to other countries.
“This has led to improved cooperation in sports between Cambodia and Middle Eastern countries,” Chamroeun said.
Khon on October 4 met president of the Saudi Arabian National Olympic Committee Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki AI Saud, who is also the Middle Eastern country’s minister of sport.
With both countries set to host upcoming major international sporting events, Cambodia and Saudi Arabia had agreed to exchange experiences and assistance.
Saudi Arabia is to hold the 2025 Asian Indoor Martial Art Games, the 2029 Asian Winter Games and the 2034 Asian Games.
Cambodia will host the 32nd SEA Games and the 12th ASEAN Para Games for the first time in its history next year, with the 5th Asian Youth Games to come in 2029.
“There is an important agreement that with the Kingdom to host the 2023 SEA Games, Saudi Arabia will organise volunteers to help us in further training Cambodian officials.
“There will also be the exchange of experiences in Saudi Arabia to help in our preparations for the major multi-sport events we are to host,” Chamroeun said.
During the meeting, Khon invited Prince Abdulaziz to attend the opening ceremony of the 32nd SEA Games in May.
Prince Abdulaziz requested that Khon visit Saudi Arabia for discussions on signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the exchange of experiences and assistance in the provision of sports technical skills.
Khon also met president of the National Olympic Committee of Iran Mahmoud Khosravi Vafa, with Cambodia and the Islamic Republic to sign an MoU focusing on tourism and sport.
Iran has sent a professional coach to assist in training the Cambodian national wrestling team.
“Iran has a great tradition in combat sports, particularly wrestling. So [Khon] has requested the Iranian side to provide further support for the development of Cambodian sports.
