Cambodia launched First Phnom Penh Half Marathon

By Sok Lak

Over 1600 people including around 200 foreigners who come from Cambodia, Europe, America, Australia, Asia and 20 more countries in Arabia countries joined the Phnom Penh Half Marathon at Samdech  Hun Sen Park in Phnom Penh.

The Phnom Penh half Marathon is to celebrate the 117^th anniversary of the establishment of the International Olympic Committee in 1894 in which in conjunction with the World Environment Day and the birthday of Cambodian former Queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk. The event is open is opened for all runners interested in marathon.

The Phnom Penh Half Marathon organized on the same day of Her Majesty the Queen Monineath's 75 Birthday and the coincides with 117th anniversary of the World's Olympic Day and is opened for all runners interested in the event around the globe.

The event is organized by the National Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, the Khmer Amateur Athletics Federation and Phnom Penh Municipal Hall. The purpose for organizing the first Phnom Penh Half Marathon is to draw attentions to foreign arrivals to visit our capital city of Phnom Penh, also promote the name of the city.

H.E Thong Khon, President of Cambodia’s National Committee of Olympic and tourism minister said that the big capital around the world also use the name of their city in Half Marathon event to promote their city country’s capital,” he stressed. “Through the exposing of the Phnom Penh Half Marathon, the world will better know Phnom Penh as the Country's capital,” he stressed.

He mentioned that this marathon also gave a message to all Cambodian citizens to participate in society activities and environmental activities.

Vath Chamroeun, Secretary General of National Olympic Committee of Cambodia said that Phnom Penh Half Marathon is the first time organized in Phnom Penh while event celebrated in Siem Reap province in front of Angkor Wat Temple for 15 years subsequently.

There are three different categories - 21 kilometers for professional athletes, 8 and 5 kilometers for amateurs. The winners in 21 kilometer marathon awarded US$1,000 and US$700 and US$500 for the second and third finishers respectively.

As the result, Hem Bunting, a Cambodian athlete won the first champion in the 21 kilometers distance Men race with the record of 1h 11mn 26ss while Neko Hiroshi, Japanese athlete won the second place and Keang Samon, a Cambodian athlete won the third place. For the first championship in the 21 kilometers distance for women race was given to Jill Hamill, British athlete with the record of 1h 39mn 38ss while Clementini Targn, French athlete received the second place and American athlete Ropbin Martez got the third place.

In the International Half Marathon in Angkor Wat in 2010, it attracted 4,050 runners from 53 countries while there were only 964 runners coming from 14 countries when such event began in 1996.

Ambassador Andrew Mace is delighted that he and his team are supporting this new event. He said that Phnom Penh is a great place for a running event. The routes take in some of the most beautiful areas of the city. It promise to be an enjoyable event for Cambodians and foreigners alike, and our team are excited to be part of the first Half Marathon on Olympic Day. I am sure it will be a success and become a regular date in the Phnom Penh calendars in the race but we had no hesitation about joining the NOCC and celebrating Olympic spirit in Phnom Penh as we look forward to all the Olympic events in London in 2012,” he added.

Source: The Southeast Asia Weekly (SEAW), June 19-25, 2011/Vol.5, Issue 25, Page 12