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King of Cambodia to Attend SEA Games Torch Lighting Ceremony at Angkor Wat

  • Posted Jan 4, 2023 13:16 by Saroeun Phallika
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PHNOM PENH: The King of Cambodia will attend a ceremony to receive fire from the sports god, following Greek Olympic tradition, at Angkor Wat on 21 March 2023. The ceremony will take place during the sunrise and will see the official lighting of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games torch to kick off the multi-country torch relay, which will begin in Siem Reap and pass through other countries in the ASEAN region up until the start of the 32nd SEA Games in May, held in Phnom Penh.

During the Standing Committee of the Cambodian SEA Games Organizing Committee’s (CAMSOC) meeting on Tuesday, 3 January, chaired by the Minister of Tourism and Permanent Vice Chairman of CAMSOC and the Cambodian ASEAN Para Games Organizing Committee (CAMAPGOC), Thong Khon, a specific plan and time was set out for when the ceremony to ask for fire from the Gods for the 32nd SEA Games would take place.

The Secretary-General of CAMSOC, Vath Chamroeun, said that plans to prepare for the Royal Fire Ceremony have been made for a long time, but now is the time to discuss in detail exactly what final preparations will need to be made, and what exact time the Royal Ceremony will be conducted to receive fire from the sports god to light the official torch for the SEA Games.

“The Prime Minister agreed to request for the high presence of His Majesty the King of Cambodia [to attend this ceremony], and in this way, Cambodia will follow the same pattern as when the 1966 GANEFO Games was hosted, with an arrangement of divine lights from Angkor Wat," he said.

The CAMSOC Secretary-General confirmed that a round of the torch relay will be organized through Angkor Wat’s Small Circuit, and will then carry on to the Philippines and other countries in Southeast Asia, with a last stop in Laos, before returning to Cambodia for a final run around the Tonle Sap Lake and then up to the Morodok Techo National Stadium on 5 May 2023 for the official opening ceremony of the 32nd SEA Games 2023 in Phnom Penh.

This is the first time Cambodia is hosting the SEA Games in its 64-year history.


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