PHNOM PENH, Jan 24 (NNN-AKP) – A senior sports official and ordinary people in Cambodia, yesterday, voiced their full support for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, expressing their confidence that the Games will be a great success.
Speaking while visiting a photo exhibition on the Beijing Winter Olympics, National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) secretary-general, Vath Chamroeun said, the country fully backed the Games and opposed all forms of politicisation of sports.
“On behalf of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia, I would like to express my full support for Beijing in hosting this Winter Olympics and I wish the Games great success,” he said.
“Although the Games is in the time of COVID-19, measures have been taken thoroughly to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and these measures are good,” he said. “Beijing has done a good job in preparation for this Games.”
Organized by the Cambodian Chinese Calligraphers Association, the two-month photo exhibition, at the Ly Hout Condo in Phnom Penh, opened yesterday.
Chhean Roka, a 25-year-old visitor, said, she fully supported the Games because it was about sports, not politics.
“China has done a tremendous job in the preparation for this event that, I think, will present a great Games to the world,” she said.
Roka is confident that the Games will be safe and successful and will bring closer friendship and cooperation, as well as, good and unforgettable memories to all participants. “Together for a shared future. China, we stand with you and wish you success in hosting this wonderful sporting event,” she said.
Fellow visitor, Trinh Sunheng, said, sport is a universal language and brings unity and has no discrimination against any nations, races, or cultures.
“Peace and friendship have always been part of the Olympic movement. It’s really inappropriate that a few countries have politicised sports,” he said. “I think they are sullying the Olympic spirit, as well as, the principles of unity, cooperation and fair competition.”
He added that, the Olympics is an opportunity for athletes from countries and regions across the globe, to show their physical ability and talent in sports, not ideological hubris.
Chamroeun Thida, an assistant to the association, said, some 238 photos and more than 100 calligraphy pieces pertaining to Beijing 2022 are on show at the event.
“We want to tell the Cambodian people that, this international sporting event is about peace, friendship, solidarity, fair play, respect and cooperation among countries around the world, not about politics,” she said.
“I believe that the Beijing Winter Olympics will be full of the profound charm of traditional Chinese culture, because it is not only a sporting event, but also a cultural event,” she added.– NNN-AKP
