In a groundbreaking move, Cambodia’s organizing committees for the 32nd SEA Games and 12th ASEAN Para Games, CAMSOC-CAMAPGOC, have chosen to eliminate the customary $50 per day meal and accommodation fees charged to the sports delegations from participating countries in both events.
This decision came after an April 18 special meeting led by Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen, with the attendance of Minister of National Defence Tea Banh and Minister of Tourism Thong Khon. According to CAMSOC-CAMAPGOC Secretary-General Vath Chamrouen, Hun Sen and Tea Banh recommended waiving the daily fees for sporting delegates from all countries.
Chamrouen highlighted the unprecedented nature of this move, as no other nation hosting these biennial multi-sport events has ever done so. CAMSOC-CAMAPGOC representatives will share this information with sports delegates while coordinating their visits and stays.
Furthermore, Hun Sen recently declared that the sale of live broadcast rights to all TV stations, both domestic and international, has been canceled. This allows them to broadcast the events for free if they wish.
Previously, it was announced that entry to the opening and closing ceremonies for both the SEA Games and Para Games, as well as tickets to all associated sporting events, would be free for the public, including Cambodian citizens and foreign visitors.
As a result of these policies, Cambodia has become the first country to host these games without attempting to monetize them through conventional means, such as ticket sales or broadcast rights. This marks the first time the Kingdom will host these events, a long-awaited milestone considering the SEA Games’ 64-year history.
Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen emphasized that Cambodia’s priority is not generating revenue from ticket sales or advertising rights, but instead, to help the world become more familiar with the country.
