Athletes to be Dispersed by Stadium Work

The Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh will close for a year of renovations this Saturday—forcing local athletes to bring their games somewhere else.

And many worry they won’t be able to play for free when the stadium job is complete.

“Renovations cost a lot—they must ask for money,” said Sao Savin, a high school student who plays football every day at the stadium.

Such fears may be justified.

“Our plan is to make the stadium look nicer, and to make it follow international standards. If we allow many sports to train here after the renovations, the stadium will become ugly again,” said Chhoun Leng, an officer of the Cambodian Olympic Committee.

For years, the Olympic Sta­dium complex has been a home for sporting matches. It houses the only public, Olympic-sized swim­ming pool in Cambodia.

While games like football and basketball will have a relatively easy time relocating during this year, athletes of all stripes fear what will come after the renovations.

The renovations come at a particularly bad time for the Khmer Amateur Swimming Federation. Two of its members will represent Cambodia in the Sydney Olympics this September—a month and a half after they lose the only pool where they can afford to train.

“It’s necessary to practice day by day,” said Hem Thon, General Secretary of the Khmer Amateur Swimming Federation. “It will be hard to reassemble a swim team after a year of dispersement.”

 

 

Related Stories

Latest News