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Cambodia Aims at 2032 Summer Olympics for Winning First Medal: NOCC

• By Cambodianess
• March 4, 2024 6:10 PM

PHNOM PENH – While the 2024 Paris Olympics are set to begin in only four months, Cambodia is already planning its next moves. Vath Chamroeun, the secretary-general of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) said the country aims to win medals in the 2032 Summer Olympics which will be held in eight years in Brisbane, Australia. 

“In preparation for the 2032 Summer Olympic games, many athletes should be qualified first. In addition to strengthening the athletic ability, the national sports federation should also reform for better and set clear goals,” Chamroeun said. 

For the upcoming 33rd Olympic Games in Paris, Chamroeun said NOCC does not yet know which Cambodian athletes would qualify, as they must first take part in the qualifying tournaments.

“Some federations are now preparing for the qualifying tournaments. Wrestling and Taekwondo athletes are also getting ready for the qualifying tournaments,” he said. 

“If the athletes are unable to make it through the qualifying tournaments, some will still have the privilege to be eligible for the Olympic Games. Simply put, around two to five athletes will be chosen for the games,” he said.

Under the Olympic rules, some athletes will be able to compete in the games without going through qualifications under a ‘wild card’ system. The sports include athletics and swimming.

“NOCC has no right to assign all the Cambodian athletes, they will be selected by the International Olympic Committee to compete in this 33rd Olympic Games,” Chamroeun specified.

To be able to qualify for the Olympic Games, Chamroeun said the NOCC is now strengthening the athletic ability and professional officials of the national sports federation. 

Cambodia first took part in the 1956 Summer Olympics and attended the next 5 Games, until 1972. Due to political instability, the Khmer Rouge regime and the Vietnamese occupation, the country went through a 24-year hiatus before attending its next Games, in 1996 in Atlanta (United States). 

So far, Cambodia has taken part in ten Summer Olympic Games but has never brought home any Olympic medals. 

The 33rd Olympic Games will run from July 26 to August 11 in Paris (France). The 17th Paralympic Games will run from August 28 to September 8.

The next Summer Olympics will be held in Los Angeles (U.S.) in 2028 and Brisbane (Australia) in 2032.

Originally written in Khmer for ThmeyThmey, this story was translated by Rin Ousa for Cambodianess.