NOCC to Request for Inclusion of Traditional Sports into the 5th Asian Youth Games

Phnom Penh, January 03, 2024 --

The National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) will request the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to include Cambodian traditional sports in the 5th Asian Youth Games to be hosted by Cambodia in 2029.

The intention was shared by its NOCC Secretary General H.E. Vath Chamroeun, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports, in his recent interview with AKP.

The Asian Youth Games 2029 will consist of 20 kinds of sports, including Olympic sports, and Cambodia will propose Kun Khmer, Lbokator, and Ok Chaktrang (chess) to be included in the games, he said.

He added that NOCC President Senior Minister H.E. Thong Khon will prepare a strategic plan for a successful host of the games and encouraged the national sports federations to further develop the capacity of young athletes aged 12, 13, and 14 years old, as they will be 17, 18, and 19 years old by 2029.

The age limitation is determined by OCA, and the host must respect the guidelines and techniques to carry out its tasks smoothly, emphasised the committee's secretary general.

The Royal Government of Cambodia is committed to hosting the 5th Asian Youth Games and the Asian Para Youth Games successfully, and the Cambodian para athletes will also be trained hard for the games.

Cambodia was authorised by the OCA to host the forthcoming games following a decision at the OCA's 40th General Assembly in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Nov. 21, 2021.

Sport contingents from 45 Asian countries are expected to join the 2029 Asian Youth Games.