Photo by: HENG CHIVOANNational Sports Foundation General Secretary Vath Chamroeun speaks during the seminar Wednesday.
Photo by: HENG CHIVOAN48-year-old Keo La shows off her Petanque medals won in previous SEA Games and competitons.
The Phnom Penh Post
Friday, 10 July 2009
DAN RILEY
THE National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) held a seminar at the Sunway hotel in Phnom Penh on Wednesday to help promote their activities and attract sponsors and funding for the development of sport in the Kingdom.
According to a handout from the NOCC, a master plan has been drawn up to improve the talent of local athletes for international tournaments.
"We understand right now that sport [has] become more and more popular in Cambodia," reads the NOCC's glossy pamphlet. "People are proud when our athletes win the international tournaments."
NOCC's stated objectives include developing talent through modern training and coaching, identifying and nurturing future athletes, improving the living conditions of athletes, training in sports ethics and the providing of legal assistance to athletes for the management of their image.
The National Sport Foundation, an industry and marketing department of the NOCC, is responsibility of attracting and managing funds for the development of Cambodian athletes. General Secretary of the Foundation Vath Chamroeun said they will be looking in many different areas, both in the private and public sectors, for investment and sponsorship to help raise capital to be directed to athletes and sports federations. "Now we are just starting to promote [our cause]," said Vath Chamroeun Thursday. "If we have sufficient [support] we will look to help federations' administration. Athletes are the same as soldiers - they represent our country. So, everybody must support them."
The NOCC's new Web site www.camnoc.org was officially presented at the seminar by NOCC President Thong Khon and technical advisor Chriv Kosona, with Vath Chamroeun calling it "an important tool in Cambodian sports promotion".
Sporting achievers receive plaudits
SEA Games medallists were also honoured in a presentation by NOCC General Secretary Meas Sarin, with the tracksuit-clad athletes proudly showing off their gleaming decorations.
The FOCC claimed they currently organise national championships in tennis, tae-kwondo, wrestling, boxing, athletics, beach volleyball, petanque (which they call simply petan) and 25 other sports, as well as frequent international friendly matches.
Thong Khon said Thursday that they were looking to send over 100 delegates to the upcoming 25th SEA Games in Vientiane, Laos, this December, although over 200 were sent to the previous Games in Thailand 2007. Cambodia's most successful discipline during those games was petanque, with the team finishing second overall to Thailand, capturing two golds, three silvers and two bronzes.
This year, the NOCC will be organising delegates for the seven events named above, with more sports welcome to join providing their fund themsleves.
Thong Khon said the NOCC trains around 340 athletes in their sports training centre, located in the grounds of Olympic Stadium, but called on all public to provide support for their drive for greater Cambodian sporting achievements.
No comments:
Post a Comment