Sporting complex begins to take shape

03 Apr 2017 2050 | Cambodia Travel News

Thong Khon, chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia, was accompanied by Vath Chamroeun, secretary general, and other officials on Friday as they visite the site of the newly constructed indoor sporting arena which forms stage 1 of the Morodok Techo National Sport Complex in northern Phnom Penh.

The officials conducted an inspection of the international-standard swimming pool equipped with some of the world’s latest technology with the arena housing a main pool as well as three smaller warm up pools.

Mr. Khon called upon members of the kingdom’s sports fraternity to band together as the Cambodia-hosted 2023 SEA Games approaches.

“Chances to compete and practice internationally are limited, so we must prepare well regarding the technical development of our athletes and officials,” he said.

Speaking earlier this year at an International Olympic Committee ceremony at the Peace Palace held to honor Prime Minister Hun Sen, IOC executive board member Ng Ser Miang of Singapore said the Cambodian Premier’s efforts in increasing sporting participation in the Kingdom was laudable and that the sports complex was testament to this.

“His decision to host the SEA Games for the very first time in 2023, and has brought about the development of Morodok Techo Sports Complex. These facilities will be important in ensuring the success of 2023, and above all create an everlasting legacy for the people,” he said.

Part of a larger sports complex under construction for the last four years in northern Phnom Penh, a new multi-million dollar stadium will play host to the SEA Games in 2023. It is estimated to cost about $200 million when it is completed.

The complex will accommodate 100,000 people, while the main stadium will hold about 75,000 spectators.

This is a marked increase from Olympic Stadium, which was completed in 1964. Cambodian architect Vann Molyvann originally designed the stadium for the 1963 Southeast Asian Peninsular Games, but the games were canceled due to political problems.

Construction of the new main stadium is key to helping the kingdom meet high international standards demanded for the 2023 SEA Games. Many of the country’s other sporting facilities, including the newly renovated Olympic Stadium have recently been upgraded.