By Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
Cambodian gymnasts are in training for their participation in the South East Asia (SEA) Games. The international competition is to be held next year in Laos PDR. This is according to Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC).
Thong Khon, who is also the President of the Cambodian Gymnastic Federation, said that since the establishment of the Federation in 1984, Cambodian Gymnasts have been working hard to achieve world class status. Their success is measured by their regular participation in the SEA Games and other international competitions.
Speaking to an audience of gymnasts and coaches on July 16 at the Olympic Stadium, Khon explained that until now, Cambodian gymnasts had won no medals beyond those awarded for their spirited performances in international competition. To redress this imbalance, he encouraged still more effort from all involved, especially when Cambodian gymnasts performed their graceful routines before an international audience.
Nay Phonna, Secretary General of the Cambodian Gymnastics Federation, said that there were plans to send 10 of the best of Cambodia's gymnasts to represent the nation at the SEA Games 2009.
Phonna told the Cambodia Weekly on July 18 that to prepare for competition; the Federation has hired an expert coach from North Korea to train the Cambodian gymnastic team in the technical aspects of the art. This coach has been with the team since 2006.
He said that for this year, the Federation will hire an additional coach from North Korea to train the Cambodian gymnastics team. This new phase of intensive training will start from early September 2008 onwards.
He continued, “Based on the experience and training regimes introduced by both Cambodian and North Korean Coaches, we expect that our gymnasts will return to Cambodia with a haul of medals after the SEA Games next year.”
Pich You, National Coach for the Cambodian Gymnastic Federation, said that, “Since 1997, our gymnasts have represented Cambodia every year at the SEA Games. Sadly, despite their massive efforts, we have yet to win a medal. Whilst our athletes’ hearts are probably the bravest in the entire sport, the athletes lack physical strength. We shall address this issue with the extra training we have arranged.”
She noted that when Cambodian gymnasts enter international competitions, they deal with competitors who have spent years on dedicated training courses, eating specially formulated sports diets. “In comparison, the Cambodian gymnast is an enthusiastic amateur who makes the most out of little or no funding, insufficient equipment and comparatively rough and ready training sessions. Given these limitations, the word “amateur” does not describe the extent of their efforts. More accurately, they are sportsmen and women in the most honourable sense of the notion.”
Pich You told the Cambodia Weekly that to prepare for the SEA Games, as well as other international competitions in the future, the gymnastics team was training very hard every day.
She said that with a combination of training and support from the Federation’s leadership and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, gymnastics could become one of Cambodia's strongest suits in all international sporting events.
According to Pich You, the national gymnastics team currently boasts 16 of Cambodia's best gymnasts. All told, there are 10 gymnastics clubs across Cambodia.
Cambodian gymnasts are in training for their participation in the South East Asia (SEA) Games. The international competition is to be held next year in Laos PDR. This is according to Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC).
Thong Khon, who is also the President of the Cambodian Gymnastic Federation, said that since the establishment of the Federation in 1984, Cambodian Gymnasts have been working hard to achieve world class status. Their success is measured by their regular participation in the SEA Games and other international competitions.
Speaking to an audience of gymnasts and coaches on July 16 at the Olympic Stadium, Khon explained that until now, Cambodian gymnasts had won no medals beyond those awarded for their spirited performances in international competition. To redress this imbalance, he encouraged still more effort from all involved, especially when Cambodian gymnasts performed their graceful routines before an international audience.
Nay Phonna, Secretary General of the Cambodian Gymnastics Federation, said that there were plans to send 10 of the best of Cambodia's gymnasts to represent the nation at the SEA Games 2009.
Phonna told the Cambodia Weekly on July 18 that to prepare for competition; the Federation has hired an expert coach from North Korea to train the Cambodian gymnastic team in the technical aspects of the art. This coach has been with the team since 2006.
He said that for this year, the Federation will hire an additional coach from North Korea to train the Cambodian gymnastics team. This new phase of intensive training will start from early September 2008 onwards.
He continued, “Based on the experience and training regimes introduced by both Cambodian and North Korean Coaches, we expect that our gymnasts will return to Cambodia with a haul of medals after the SEA Games next year.”
Pich You, National Coach for the Cambodian Gymnastic Federation, said that, “Since 1997, our gymnasts have represented Cambodia every year at the SEA Games. Sadly, despite their massive efforts, we have yet to win a medal. Whilst our athletes’ hearts are probably the bravest in the entire sport, the athletes lack physical strength. We shall address this issue with the extra training we have arranged.”
She noted that when Cambodian gymnasts enter international competitions, they deal with competitors who have spent years on dedicated training courses, eating specially formulated sports diets. “In comparison, the Cambodian gymnast is an enthusiastic amateur who makes the most out of little or no funding, insufficient equipment and comparatively rough and ready training sessions. Given these limitations, the word “amateur” does not describe the extent of their efforts. More accurately, they are sportsmen and women in the most honourable sense of the notion.”
Pich You told the Cambodia Weekly that to prepare for the SEA Games, as well as other international competitions in the future, the gymnastics team was training very hard every day.
She said that with a combination of training and support from the Federation’s leadership and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, gymnastics could become one of Cambodia's strongest suits in all international sporting events.
According to Pich You, the national gymnastics team currently boasts 16 of Cambodia's best gymnasts. All told, there are 10 gymnastics clubs across Cambodia.
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