Runners depart the start of the 10th International Half Marathon in Preah Sihanouk province on Sunday, March 30. NOCC
The National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) has announced plans to organise the region’s largest coastal running event, with Preah Sihanouk province tipped as the venue.
Vatn Chamroeun, NOCC secretary-general, shared the plans during the 10th International Half Marathon, held in Preah Sihanouk province on the morning of March 30.
The event was a great success, attracting over 4,000 national and international athletes from 48 countries, setting a new record for participation in the past decade.
He explained that the province’s advantages in infrastructure, environment and, most notably, its long coastal running routes with a pleasant atmosphere, made it the logical choice for even larger events.
Chamroeun noted that this year's half marathon ran smoothly, thanks to excellent cooperation from the provincial administration, which provided support to the organising committee, particularly in terms of ensuring security and public order. This contributed to the safety of both local and international runners, and earned praise from participants.
“With the support of the provincial administration, our technical team felt encouraged, and all runners commented that running in Preah Sihanouk was very convenient due to the great atmosphere, favourable morning weather and especially the fresh sea breeze along the coastal route,” he told the media, immediately after the race.
“These aspects left a lasting impression on them, making them eager to return for future events,” he added.
Each class at the 10th International Half Marathon in Preah Sihanouk province proceeded smoothly, with smiles all around and no issues reported, he said, suggesting that the successful event contributed to promoting the province’s reputation.
NOCC secretary-general Vath Chamroeun and Preah Sihanouk provincial governor Mang Sineth take part in the event. NOCC
“This event shows that we are here to demonstrate to both the domestic and international communities that Preah Sihanouk remains a province with strong potential in economy, tourism and other sectors, aligning with the government's vision of making it a multi-purpose economic hub,” explained Chamroeun.
Mang Sinet, provincial governor of Preah Sihanouk, took part in the race himself.
He expressed his gratitude to the NOCC and all other stakeholders for the successful organisation of the event, and also highlighted its important role in boosting tourism in the province.
“We achieved great results thanks to our dedicated teams fulfilling their roles effectively. I hope we will continue hosting similar events in the coming years, attracting even more participants. Sporting events like this contribute to health, friendship and increasing the number of tourists visiting Preah Sihanouk,” he said.
With this in mind, the NOCC is planning to upgrade the International Half Marathon in Preah Sihanouk into the largest running event in ASEAN, shared Chamroeun.
“Currently, the largest running events with tens of thousands of participants are the Phuket Marathon in Thailand and the Da Nang Marathon in Vietnam. However, their coastal infrastructure does not compare to ours — we have a more beautiful and extensive coastal route. This is not just our claim; it comes from the feedback of runners who participated,” he said.
With this vision, the NOCC aims to attract over 10,000 international runners to the event in Preah Sihanouk within the next five years.
“We are working to bring more foreign participants and showcase the province’s infrastructure, which is well-developed to accommodate visitors, including hotels, guesthouses, an airport and a highway for easy travel,” added Chamroeun.
Additionally, the NOCC is collaborating with international events, such as the Xiamen Marathon in China, which attracts tens of thousands of runners.
This partnership aims to encourage Xiamen Marathon participants to join Cambodia’s half marathon in Preah Sihanouk, ensuring a well-organized experience.
“This is our vision, and we will continue striving alongside the Royal Government under the wise and energetic leadership of Prime Minister Hun Manet. Our goal is to promote more sports events, boost national momentum and contribute to the economy, as these activities significantly support both the informal economy and the tourism sector,” added Chamroeun.
