PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Sen has announced that Cambodia will spend an additional US $7 million to support all athletes and sporting delegates when they arrive for the SEA Games.

The Prime Minister made this statement during the inauguration ceremony of new religious achievements in Preah Baramey Vongkot Borey pagoda, located in Toul Kork, Phnom Penh on Monday morning, 24 April 2023.

"This is the time to show others in the world our real Khmer heart," said the Prime Minister. "We will spend [an additional] US $7 million dollars to feed athletes and other foreign friends who come here to participate."

He added that all visitors, both Cambodian and foreign, will not be required to pay for tickets. Spectators from abroad will only have to cover their cost of accommodation, meals and travel.

During a recent press conference on the progress made in preparing for the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games, the Secretary General of the Cambodia SEA Games Organizing Committee (CAMSOC), Vath Chamroeun, said that the country will spend around US $124 million to host the 32nd SEA Games.

The Prime Minister has now announced that an additional US $7 million is being added to total expenditures, increasing the hosting budget for the SEA Games to US $131 million.

Only 11 days remain till the start of the SEA Games, and 40 days till the start of the ASEAN Para Games. The SEA Games-ASEAN Para Games torch relay will be arriving in Laos tomorrow on 25 April.