King to be Special Guest at Asian Games’ Opening Ceremony
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, who is in China to attend the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations (CDAC), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 14, 2019. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)
- By Torn Chanritheara
- September 21, 2023 7:20 PM
PHNOM PENH – King Norodom Sihamoni has been invited to attend the 2022 Asian Games’ opening ceremony in China on Sept. 23.
The four-yearly sport event, which run until Oct. 8, will be officially opened in host city Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. Chinese President Xi Jinping will preside over the opening ceremony.
Vath Chamroeun, secretary-general of the National Olympic Committee (NOCC), said the King had been invited as a special guest. Along with Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, the King is in China for a regular medical check-up.
Several foreign dignitaries were also invited.
“It is such an honor and diplomatic gesture,” Chamroeun, who is also deputy head of the Cambodian delegation, said before departing for China to attend the Games. Senior Minister and NOCC president Thong Khon is the head.
The NOCC official said that Cambodia is also seeking cooperation with China to develop its capacities as the Kingdom will host the Asian Youth Games in 2029.
He said that the Cambodian delegate will meet the China Sport Administration and other institutions to discuss the cooperation.
Cambodia is sending 189 sports delegates, including 114 athletes, to the Asian Games in 17 sports.
Cambodia will compete in volleyball, basketball, athletics, swimming, cricket, judo, wrestling, badminton, jiu-jitsu, karate, sailing, WT Taekwondo, triathlon, traditional boat racing, soft tennis, Chinese chess and fencing.
In the 2018 Games in Indonesia, Cambodia claimed two gold medals and one bronze in jiu-jitsu and jet ski.
