PHNOM PENH: For the first time in 64 years, Cambodia hosted the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, expressing hope that the biannual multi-sport competition will help the country's tourism sector recover from the COVID-19 outbreak.

The 32nd Southeast Asian Games' opening ceremony was presided over by Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Friday evening at the 60,000-seat Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh, according to Xinhua.

10,890 athletes, coaches, arbitrators, and delegates from the 10 member states of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam participated in the games under the theme "Sport: Live in Peace."

The two-hour opening ceremony featured a music and light spectacle highlighting Cambodia's history, a procession of competitors, the swearing-in of competitors and arbitrators, speeches, the lighting of the games' torch, and fireworks.

Hun Sen remarked that sports live in peace and that peace is for everyone and everyone is for peace in his brief remarks at the event.

The 32nd Southeast Asian Games are now officially open, Hun Sen said on behalf of His Majesty the King of Cambodia, the royal administration, and himself.

Athletes will compete in 579 events across 36 sports, including football, athletics, gymnastics, swimming, badminton, golf, and two ancient martial arts from Cambodia, namely Kun Bokator and Kun Khmer, according to the Cambodia SEA Games Organising Committee (CAMSOC).
The games, which are free for everyone and run until May 17, include free tickets for spectators, free food and lodging for all foreign athletes, coaches, and delegates, and free live broadcasting rights to local and international TV networks.

Thong Khon, the permanent vice-chairman of CAMSOC and minister of tourism for Cambodia, claimed that the actions were "unprecedented" in the history of the SEA Games and would have long-term positive effects on the country's economy.

"The games will not only promote sports, but also boost Cambodia's tourism in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era," he stated during a pre-games press conference.

He predicted that after getting about 1.2 million foreign visitors in the first quarter of this year, Cambodia will draw more than four million tourists from abroad.

Since nearly 40% of the nation's athletes had been sent to train and compete abroad prior to the games, Khon, who is also the president of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia, was optimistic that Cambodia would win numerous medals.

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