Cambodia has been asked to reduce the number of athletes participating in the 33rd SEA Games to just 200.

The Chairman of the SEA Games Council, Chaiyaphak Siriwat, has requested Cambodia to reduce the number of athletes participating in the 33rd SEA Games to no more than 200, due to concerns that host country Thailand may not be able to guarantee adequate security.

The safety concerns for Cambodian athletes at the 33rd SEA Games are real.

According to Chaiyaphak Siriwat, the Thai organizing committee was concerned about security and safety, especially due to international political tensions. Therefore, they wrote to the Director General of the Cambodian Sports Administration, requesting that Cambodia reduce the number of athletes to no more than 200 so that the host country could ensure comprehensive security.

Chairman of the SEA Games Council, Mr. Chaiyaphak Siriwat

Photo: Screenshot from Siamsport

According to regional press reports, at a meeting with the SEA Games 33 Organizing Committee and heads of delegations from Southeast Asian countries on August 20, Cambodian sports confirmed its participation in SEA Games 33 with 600 athletes and approximately over 100 officials. This number is lower than the previously reported total of over 1,600 people.

Prior to the political tensions and border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, Cambodian sports had initially registered 1,515 athletes for the 33rd SEA Games, not including officials and coaches. Later, reports emerged that Cambodia had reduced the number to only 57 athletes for the 33rd SEA Games.

However, the Secretary-General of the Cambodian Olympic Committee, Vath Chamroeun, denied this number of athletes, stating that the country would send a larger number of athletes and officials to the Southeast Asian Games, according to the Phnom Penh Post .

It was thought that this confirmation would end the debate about whether Cambodian sports would participate in the 33rd SEA Games and with how many athletes. But now, the issue of ensuring security for the Cambodian sports delegation has arisen. This is a real concern, according to Siamsport .

Therefore, the Chairman of the SEA Games Council, Mr. Chaiyaphak Siriwat, suggested that Cambodia reduce the number of athletes to no more than 200, including athletes and officials. Cambodia has not yet officially responded regarding the number of athletes participating in the 33rd SEA Games as per the latest proposal. While the deadline for submitting the athlete registration list for the 33rd SEA Games is September 15th, at which point we may know more about the actual number of Cambodian athletes they will send, according to Siamsport .

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thai-lan-keu-goi-campuchia-giam-so-luong-vdv-du-sea-games-33-chi-con-200-nguoi-1852508220940564.htm