PHNOM PENH: The Royal Government announced that select athletes from the 32nd SEA Games will be immortalized in sculpture at the Victory Monument to commemorate the historic event. Cambodia hosted the SEA Games for the first time in the Games’ 64-year history, and it won’t have the opportunity to do so for another 20 years.

At a plenary meeting of the Council of Ministers on May 19, it was decided that sculptures of outstanding athletes from this year’s SEA Games will be made part of the Victory Monument as a testament to Cambodia’s glorious history for children and adults from all walks of life, both international and national, for generations to come.

Additionally, the Royal Government will produce a documentary telling the story of the 2023 SEA Games which Cambodia successfully hosted with great enthusiasm and fanfare.

Prime Minister Hun Sen said that Cambodia’s great success in organizing the 32nd SEA Games was one for the history books, and is a sign of the country’s progress and reform, which reflects the development of the ASEAN community as a whole.

The Prime Minster mentioned at the closing ceremony on May 17, that Cambodia will next host the event in 2043. He called on all citizens to work with the Royal Government to protect peace under the slogan of this year’s Games, "Sports live in peace.”

With the SEA Games coming to a successful end, Cambodia is shifting focus to host the 12th ASEAN Para Games from June 3-9. A total of 1,423 athletes (including 317 Cambodians) will compete for the gold in 14 sports. The event will host athletes from Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste who will be provided free accommodation, food and transportation, just like their SEA Games counterparts.