Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister asks the sport team to work harder

PHNOM PENH, Dec. 9, 2009: Excellency Dr. Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister told Cambodia’s athletic group to focus  more on training  practicing, which is the main factor to bring them success for the nation.

Speaking at the meeting with the 180 players before they left to contest in the Southeast Asian Games (SEA GAMES) which is being held in Laos, His Excellency Sok An said Cambodian players should bear in mind that such the sport event is more than just the game itself.

“You are representing the Cambodia’s image at the international stage. You carry Cambodia’s flags, and the whole world will salute our flag when you win the games,” Sok An, who is also the Minister in charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers, told the enthusiastic sport people.

“We must protect our prestige,” he said referring to Cambodia was ranked ninth out of the eleventh countries joined the SEA Games in 2008.

Dr. Sok An, who accompanied Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday to attend the game’s opening, said he wishes to see his country’s sport to become a real sport industry in the future with the financial support from the private sector.

“But to reach that point, we, as sportsmen, need to be well-disciplined in training and work harder to reach high performance, which are the key attraction to allure financial supporters to involve with the games.”

H.E. DPM made it loud and clear in his upbeat speech at the eve of the beginning of the games and predicted that the athletes would bring home some gold and silver medals from the SEA Games.

"I went through a rocky time, which was interrupted by Thailand from inscribing our Temple of Preah Vihear as World Heritage Site, before we achieved the listing. So, why not our team at the SEA Games,” said Dr. Sok An, referring to his landmark achievement last year of lobbying the international community to provide their decisive support for listing the Temple as World Heritage Site.

Cambodia issued a sub-decree in February, 2008, allowing cash reward of US $6,000, $4,000 and $2,000 for Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal Winners from the games, respectively.

Four premiers from Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam are scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of the 25th Southeast Asian Games hosted by Laos PDR this week.

The December 9-18 games in the Laotian capital will be the largest international event hosted by land-locked country, which also makes the 50^th Anniversary of the Games since its inception.

(Press and Quick Reaction Unit of the Office of the Council of Ministers)