Cambodia orders withdrawal of athletes from SEA Games in Thailand over safety fears
Sign up now: Get insights on Asia's fast-moving developments
The 137-member Cambodian contingent had been registered to participate in 12 sports at the Dec 9-20 Games.
ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
Follow topic:
- Cambodia withdrew its SEA Games delegation from Thailand on December 10, citing "serious safety concerns" and family requests for athletes' return.
- The withdrawal follows escalating tensions at the Thai-Cambodian border, including military clashes and ceasefire violations in recent months.
- NOCC thanked the Games organisers for their hospitality and will coordinate with SEAGF for departure logistics of the 137-member team.
AI generated
Cambodia on Dec 10 withdrew its entire delegation from the ongoing SEA Games in Thailand, citing serious safety concerns and urgent pleas from athletes’ families for their return.
The withdrawal was formalised in a letter from National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) secretary-general Vath Chamroeun to Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF) chief executive officer Chaiyapak Siriwat, reportedly sent at 10.30am the same day.
The letter did not specify the nature of the safety concerns, but its withdrawal comes amid concerns over escalating tensions at the border with Thailand
“Due to serious concerns and requests from the families of our athletes to have their relatives return home immediately, NOCC must withdraw all of our delegation and arrange for their prompt return to Cambodia for safety reasons,” wrote Mr Chamroeun.
He added that the decision was not made lightly, and expressed his appreciation for the “hospitality, warmth and spirit of sportsmanship extended to our athletes” by the Games organisers.
He said that the NOCC would coordinate with the SEAGF to manage departure logistics.
The 110-member Cambodian athlete contingent had been registered to participate in 12 sports at the Dec 9-20 Games, after pulling out of nine sports, including football and volleyball, in November.
The Cambodian contingent had attended the opening ceremony in Bangkok
Relations between Thailand and Cambodia have been strained since military clashes broke out along the two neighbours’ border. More than 40 people were killed during five days of fighting in July.
A ceasefire, brokered in Kuala Lumpur in October, was halted in November after a landmine blast injured Thai soldiers.
Tensions spiked again on Dec 7 following reports of gunfire exchanged between Cambodian and Thai troops along the countries’ northeastern border.
