Phnom Penh: Cambodia’s brand-spanking new sports complex is to be officially handed over to the country on Sunday morning. Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, will symbolically hand the stadium over to Prime Minister Hun Sen, with the sports complex being a gift to the kingdom from the People’s Republic of China. The ceremony will kick off Yi’s two-day official visit to Cambodia at the invitation of Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn. Yi is on a 5-day tour of Southeast Asia, having arrived in Vietnam on Friday. He will leave Cambodia for Singapore on Monday.

The almost $200-million Morodok Techo National Sports Complex is the largest gift Cambodia has ever received. It took eight years to build. Construction was completed just last month. Its design reflects the centuries-old relationship between Cambodia and China, resembling an ancient Chinese ship, with its two 99m tall prows.

The stadium will be the centrepiece of the 2023 SEA Games-ASEAN Para Games. It has five storeys and can seat 60,000 people. The complex is also home to an Olympic-size swimming pool, football pitch and indoor arena. A “Sports Village”, which will provide athletes’ accommodation, is under construction nearby. Located in Phnom Penh’s Chroy Changvar, the sports complex is the country’s first multi-purpose, international-standard sports facility.

EAC News will broadcast the handover ceremony live. Our coverage begins at 8.30 on Sunday morning.

^{Photo: SARY}