Phnom Penh (FN), Nov. 17 – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet called on the people and athletes to continue the spirit of "Sports Lives in peace" after the successes of the SEA Games and the ASEAN Para Games in Cambodia.

The premier spoke during the celebration party of the 2023 SEA Games-ASEAN Para Games, held on Friday (Nov. 17) at the Morodok Techo National Stadium, Phnom Penh.

"We have chosen the right slogan for the 32nd SEA Games, which is Sports Live in Peace,” Samdech Thipadei underlined.

Samdech Thipadei continued, in fact, due to the civil war decades ago, Cambodia was once prosperous and even hosted the second Ganefo Games, a world-class sporting event in 1966 during the Sangkum Reastr Niyum era. The sports sector suffered immensely, with the loss of numerous athletes during the Khmer Rouge regime. The restoration of sports became a critical task, requiring the mobilization of surviving former athletes to rebuild sporting endeavors. Today, efforts continue to revive the resources, infrastructure, and capabilities necessary for Cambodia to actively participate in national, regional, and Olympic sports once again.

In this sense, the achievement of peace, meticulously fostered by Samdech Techo Hun Sen, the architect of win-win policy, alongside those who dedicated their lives to building prosperity. Without peace, the dream of hosting international sports events and witnessing the joy of sports enthusiasts could be overshadowed by the threat of war. The potential consequences would extend to the next generation, depriving them of the opportunity to thrive happily and engage in sports as freely as they do today. Therefore, the spirit of sports thrives in the embrace of peace, and it is imperative to preserve this spirit despite the challenges faced during sporting events.
=FRESH NEWS