Cambodia’s Prime Minister, Hun Sen, has announced that the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games will be free of charge for all attendees.
The games will take place from May 5 to May 17 and will feature 37 different sports and 608 events.
Hun Sen said that the decision to make the event free for both Cambodians and international visitors was due to the country’s investment of millions of dollars and many years of preparation for the event. He also warned that any official or group who attempted to sell tickets would be held accountable under the law.
He said, “We have spent millions of dollars and many years to organize this event, therefore I will definitely not allow any ticket sales for the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as during all competitions.”
The broadcasting rights for the event will cover all 608 sports, and the PM has waived all broadcasting fees as well after a dispute with Thailand over the cost of broadcasting.
The event will be held in a newly-built stadium worth USD 150 million with a capacity of 60,000 people, which was funded by a grant from China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
The stadium, along with other newly built facilities such as an aquatic center and a multi-sports gymnasium, is expected to boost the local economy and tourism industry, which has been struggling due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The SEA Games are held every two years and feature athletes from Southeast Asian countries competing in various sports. This is the first time Cambodia will host the games after a previous attempt in 1963 was canceled due to the political climate. The logo for this year’s games is, “Sport: Live in Peace.”
