Thailand calls on Cambodia to reduce the number of athletes participating in the 33rd SEA Games to only 200 people

SEA Games Council President Chaiyaphak Siriwat has asked 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 cannot ensure adequate security.

Safety concerns for Cambodian athletes at SEA Games 33 are real

According to Mr. Chaiyaphak Siriwat, the Thai organizing committee is concerned about the security and safety situation, especially due to international political tensions. Therefore, they have written to the Director General of the General Department of Sports of Cambodia. The request is that the country should reduce the number of athletes to no more than 200 so that the host country can ensure comprehensive security.

Chairman of the SEA Games Council, Mr. Chaiyaphak Siriwat

Photo: Siamsport screenshot

According to regional press, at a meeting with the 33rd SEA Games Organizing Committee and heads of delegations from Southeast Asian countries on August 20, Cambodian sports confirmed that they would be participating in the 33rd SEA Games with 600 athletes and more than 100 officials. This number is down from the previous total of more than 1,600 people.

Before the political tension and conflict at the border between Thailand and Cambodia, Cambodia's sports initially registered 1,515 athletes for the 33rd SEA Games, not including officials and coaches of the sports. Later, it was reported that Cambodia had reduced the number to only 57 athletes for the 33rd SEA Games.

However, Vath Chamroeun, Secretary General of the Cambodian Olympic Committee, denied this number of athletes, saying that the country will send a larger number of athletes and officials to attend the Southeast Asian Games, as quoted by the Phnom Penh Post .

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

Therefore, the President of the SEA Games Council, Mr. Chaiyaphak Siriwat, has proposed that Cambodia reduce the number of athletes to no more than 200, including athletes and officials. Currently, Cambodia has not officially responded to the number of athletes participating in the 33rd SEA Games as the latest proposal. While the deadline for submitting the list of athletes to participate in the 33rd SEA Games is September 15, at that time we may know more clearly about the actual number of athletes Cambodia 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