According to Thairath on 4/8, Cambodia will send only 57 participants to the 33rd SEA Games in Bangkok. This was revealed during a meeting of the sports selection committee for athletes and officials.
This represents a 96% decrease from the 1,515 athletes initially projected. The specific sports Cambodia will participate in remain unclear. If Cambodia withdraws from football, it will significantly impact the tournament's structure.
Preceding this announcement, border disputes between the two countries sparked rumors that Thailand might bar Cambodia from the games over safety concerns for their athletes and officials.
However, both the SEA Games Council and the Thailand Olympic Committee (TOC) clarified their lack of authority to ban any nation, citing a violation of the Olympic Charter. Cambodia also affirmed its commitment to participating in the games as scheduled.
"Cambodia reiterated its stance against politicizing sports, emphasizing that sporting relations with Thailand should remain separate from border issues or any political conflicts," Thairath reported.
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The Cambodian sports delegation at the opening ceremony of the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia in 2023. Photo: Thairath |
The Cambodian sports delegation at the opening ceremony of the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia in 2023. Photo: Thairath
In contrast to Cambodia's reduced contingent, host nation Thailand will field its largest delegation ever with 2,134 athletes across all sports. Malaysia will send 1,824 athletes, Singapore 1,973, and Vietnam 863.
Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, and Timor-Leste have requested a two-week extension for registration, with the final deadline set for 1/9.
The 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) will be held in three Thai locations: Bangkok, Chonburi, and Songkhla, from 9/12 to 20/12/2025. Athletes will compete in 50 sports across 574 medal events.
Leading up to the games, Cambodia had been actively preparing. Athletes in swimming, athletics, and gymnastics underwent extensive training in China. The Cambodian U23 men's football team trained in Japan before participating in the Southeast Asian U23 Championship in Indonesia.
During the 32nd SEA Games hosted by Cambodia, disputes arose over Kun Khmer and Muay Thai, leading Thailand to withdraw its athletes from Kun Khmer.
Following the border clashes, several Cambodian football clubs severed ties with Thai apparel sponsors. NagaWorld FC and Phnom Penh Crown FC reverted to their previous jerseys while awaiting new sponsors.
Other clubs have also opted against their usual pre-season training in Thailand.
The SEA Games, short for Southeast Asian Games, is the largest sporting event in Southeast Asia. Held every two years and rotated among member countries, it brings together nations to compete in various sports.
This year's SEA Games sports are divided into three categories: Athletics and swimming are in the first, mandatory group. The second group comprises at least 15 sports from the Olympics, Asian Games, or Asian Indoor Games, such as football, volleyball, shooting, and archery. The third group includes up to two locally popular sports chosen by the host country, with a maximum of eight events.
Thanh Nhan (Thairath)
