Phnom Penh, 12 July 2024: Prime Minister Hun Manet presided over the official opening ceremony of the 2nd Asian Mixed Martial Arts Championship 2024 on the evening of July 11, 2024, at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh.

Hun Manet warmly welcomed the MMA delegates from 18 countries and regions and expressed his gratitude to the Olympic Movement and the Asian MMA Association for their confidence in Cambodia's ability to organize the championship.

The Prime Minister highlighted the significant development of sports in Cambodia and globally, emphasizing the increasing support and attention sports receive from people across all walks of life, regardless of color or political affiliation. He noted that the Royal Government of Cambodia is committed to the development of sports, aiming to create better conditions for the public to engage in sports and to enhance the abilities of athletes to excel in competitions and win major sporting events. The MMA competition, he explained, is open to various martial arts disciplines, including Jujitsu, Judo, Wrestling, Boxing, Kickboxing, Karate, and Taekwondo.

During the event, Hun Manet announced the launch of the traditional Khmer mixed martial arts competition "Samdech Thep Dey Award," open to all practitioners of traditional Khmer martial arts, both Cambodians and foreigners. He also introduced the establishment of an institute dedicated to studying and compiling ancient Khmer martial arts texts.