H.E. Dr. Thong Khon Appointed by Southeast Asian Games Federation Council as "Honorary President for Life"
H.E. Dr. Senior Minister Thong Khon, President of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC), has been appointed by the Southeast Asian Games Federation Council (SEAGF) as the "Honorary President for Life".
The decision was made at a meeting of the Southeast Asian Games Federation Council (SEAGF Council) in Bangkok, Thailand on October 25, 2024, with the participation of Olympic leaders from all countries in the region. In that meeting also had the present of H.E. Vath Chamroeun, Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia.
Around the decision to appoint H.E. Dr. Thong Khon as the Honorary President for Life of the Southeast Asian Games Federation Council, this is honoring the personal sacrifice of His Excellency to the Olympic movement, as well as the sports in which His Excellency has built the Olympic Movement of Cambodia has grown and increased under the cooperation, support, encouragement and attention from the Royal Government of Cambodia to achieve brilliant achievements as the host of the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games 2023 and many other major sporting events.
It should be reminded that: The great success is the important history in hosting the 32nd SEA Games and the 12th ASEAN Para Games 2023 in Cambodia under the right leadership with the highest wisdom of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Former Prime Minister who had set the new historical record in the history of the SEA Games and the ASEAN Para Games, including:
1. On behalf of the host country, Cambodia has provided a new concept for the International Olympic Movement, which is the unprecedented history for regional events, as well as the Olympic level events, such as offered:
- Free of charge for accommodation, meals, transportation from sports delegates from all participating countries.
-Do not sell tickets for the opening and closing ceremonies and all sports competitions.
-Free "TV broadcasting rights" for all national and international media.
-No visa fees for all sports delegates and international technical officers.
-Admission to Angkor Wat is free of charge for all sports delegates.
2. Preparation of the Royal Ceremony for the offering of the Royal Sports Fire in front of Angkor Wat and the historical torch parade has given the great national honor and shouting to support the nationalist movement and the pride of Khmer Nation, to be brilliant in accordance with the rules of the International Olympic Torch Relay.
3. The official opening and closing ceremonies of the SEA Games and the ASEAN Para Games according to the Olympic standard level and have created the most amazing surprises, luxury and perfection in displaying the glorious Angkorian culture and civilization with showing the national potential in all fields, to make surprise on the International Olympic-Paralympic Movements.
4. Holding the record that attracts more visitors if compared to previous SEA Games events, as of now, the number of viewers through all media has reached 40 billion views around the world, mostly at the opening ceremony and the female athlete Bou Samnang who won the heart of the Olympic Spirit.
5. Cambodian athletes won 81 gold, 74 silver and 127 bronze medals, a total of 282, ranking fourth of 11 countries, which is the record for most medals won by Cambodia.
It should be noted that: H.E. Dr. Thong Khon has also received many honorary awards from the Asian and International Olympic Movement. Obviously, during Cambodia’s hosting of general assembly of the 41st Asian Olympic Council (OCA), His Excellency has also received the highest awarded "Gold Necklace" or OCA Merit Award from the Asian Olympic Council.
