PHNOM PENH: Cambodia will continue to implement the principle of "sport without tobacco" at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and ASEAN Para Games. to be held in May and June 2023.

The National Organizing Committee of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games and the 12th ASEAN Para Games 2023 has banned the sale, distribution, and advertising of all tobacco products, e-cigarettes, and HTP products of all forms on the grounds of the National Stadium, as well as inside the stadium and the dining area for the sports delegates. The committee has also decided not to receive sponsorship from tobacco companies, e-cigarette companies, and companies that produce HTP products.

The committee stressed that it prohibits those participating in the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games from using tobacco products, e-cigarettes, and HTP products in the National Stadium, stadiums, and dining areas of the delegates.

At the same time, the National Sports Organizing Committee has recommended the inclusion of ‘no smoking’ and ‘no e-cigarette’ signs in promotional materials for the event. Additionally, the slogan "tobacco-free sports" must be widely disseminated to sports delegates, volunteers, other stakeholders, and the general public through training, notifications, and social media.

The Secretary of State for the Ministry of Tourism and Deputy Chairman of the Opening and Closing Ceremony Committee of the National Organizing Committee of the 32nd SEA Games and 12th ASEAN Para Games, Hor Sarun, has said that in accordance with this decision, all promotional materials for the event will also include a disclaimer on the ban of smoking and e-cigarettes, which will be widely disseminated to stakeholders and the general public.

The implementation of the "sport without tobacco" principle at the SEA Games began at the 22nd SEA Games hosted by Vietnam. Since then, a series of SEA Games and other major international sporting events have followed the same principles of tobacco-free sports.

There now remain just over 100 days left to the start of the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games, hosted by Cambodia.