Cambodian youth, both young men and women, have shown a significantly increased and vibrant interest in sports since the nation successfully hosted the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in 2023. This observation was highlighted by Mr. Buy Sophon, a standing advisor for the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC), during an educational program focused on Olympic values and gender equality in sports held in Sihanoukville on December 30.
The program saw the enthusiastic participation of over 200 young female students from Samdech Ov High School in Sihanoukville. They gathered to gain knowledge on the fundamental Olympic values and the importance of gender equality within the sports sector. This specific workshop, organized by the NOCC with support from the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), took place at the Sihanoukville Badminton Court (SBC), conveniently located within the Samdech Ov High School premises.
Badminton was deliberately chosen as a model sport for these young female students due to its suitability. Unlike many sports predominantly played by men, badminton offers a less physically confrontational experience, minimizing the risk of strong bodily impact. Its relative ease of play made it an ideal choice for the NOCC to introduce practical sports engagement to the more than 200 female students, ranging from grades 6 to 9, immediately following their theoretical study of Olympic values.
Mr. Buy Sophon further elaborated that the program, centered on Olympic values and gender equality in sports, has been an annual initiative by the NOCC since its establishment by the OCA in 2021. For the past five years, the NOCC has consistently worked to instill the spirit and knowledge of Olympism into students. The standing advisor noted a distinct surge in sports interest among youth over the last two years, particularly after Cambodia’s successful role as host of the 32nd SEA Games. This heightened engagement is especially evident in the participation of women, young girls, and young women in various sports-related programs, including those organized by the NOCC.
“We have been implementing this program since 2021 under the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) project,” Mr. Buy Sophon stated. “We observe that since we have organized it annually, and following the success of the 32nd SEA Games that Cambodia hosted, we have seen a significant surge in participation from both men and women in sports. Compared to before the SEA Games, they did not participate as much or show as keen an interest in playing sports.”
Alongside his remarks, Mr. Buy Sophon appealed to Cambodian citizens and particularly to the nation’s youth, especially women, to continue increasing their involvement in sports. He emphasized that such participation would not only contribute positively to individual well-being but also play a crucial role in advancing the sports sector across Cambodia. Ms. Hang Sokla, a physical education and sports teacher at Samdech Ov High School in Sihanoukville, expressed her profound delight that her students had been afforded the opportunity to engage in this educational session on Olympic values and gender equality in sports. Teacher Sokla conveyed her hopeful expectation that her young female students would develop a greater passion for sports, steering them towards constructive activities in their daily lives.
