PM Sorry as Fans Miss Out on Games Seats
Fans are flocking to Olympic National Stadium in Phnom Penh ahead of Group A clash between Cambodia and Timor-Leste on April 29. Photo by Chhum Chantha & Torn Chanritheara
- By Teng Yalirozy
- May 4, 2023 4:07 PM
PHNOM PENH – Prime Minister Hun Sen has asked SEA Games supporters for forgiveness for a shortage of tickets due to limited seat numbers at venues.
“Please understand this difficulty that the Royal Government cannot solve,” he said in an audio message on May 3 after a flood of criticism on social media.
Cambodia is hosting the Games for the first time, and all eyes are on the country and its organisation of the events, which started on April 29, before the official opening on May 5.
People are criticizing the SEA Games management for not distributing tickets for the opening ceremony while some people could not get tickets to watch football at the Olympic Stadium.
“The tickets for the opening and closing ceremony and the football match are the most debated topic,” Hun Sen said. “This is the issue that we cannot solve.”
He said the stadium can accommodate only 30,000-40,000 people while the support for the football match is between 300,000 and 500,000. The newly built Morodok Techo National Stadium can accommodate 60,000 spectators while half a million want to attend the ceremony.
“We don’t have any good choices,” said Hun Sen. “We have a small space, but the number of people who wish to attend is greater. We cannot satisfy all the people.”
Exceeding the set number of ceremony attendees and spectators could pose a risk, he said, appealing to those who have the tickets but cannot be there to pass them on to others.
He suggested that spectators watch the matches live on big screens in Phnom Penh at Wat Botum Park, the park in front of Metro Hassakan, in Borey Peng Huoth Boeng Snor, Friendship Park near the Ministry of National Defense, Institute of Forest and Wildlife Research and Development, Preah Neang Pracha Barami Park and Democracy Square, near Russey Keo flyover.
Provinces such as Kandal, Kep, Sihanoukville, Battambang, Pursat, Siem Reap, Banteay Meanchey, and Svay Rieng also have live coverage.
Khmer chess ouk chaktrong, indoor hockey, cricket, football, volleyball, jujitsu, Kun Bokator, obstacle races and sailing have already started.
