DPA
Phnom Penh - Cambodia's handful of Olympians departed for Beijing Wednesday with no fanfare, few hopes, but lots of Olympic spirit and hopes of seeing some of the world for the first time.
Cambodia is fielding two swimmers, a sprinter and a marathon runner, none of whom claim hopes of medals, but all of whom are proud to represent Cambodia, which is duly proud of them.
It has been a mixed journey for the four athletes.
For instance marathon runner Hem Bunting, 23, who changed from football to running only five years ago because his mother thought football was too dangerous, nearly boycotted the games last month when he found himself too broke to buy shoes.
National Olympic Committee President and Tourism Minister Thong Khon dipped into his own pocket to keep Bunting on track.
At least one Cambodian swimmer who dropped out before she could be ranked gave the reason for her retirement as the poor quality of the water in the nation's threadbare Olympic Stadium swimming pool in the capital, which her mother said gave her hives.
Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Zhang Jinfeng welcomed the team off from Phnom Penh International Airport Wednesday, wishing them luck, but otherwise, their subdued departure went almost unnoticed.
Cambodia is fielding two swimmers, a sprinter and a marathon runner, none of whom claim hopes of medals, but all of whom are proud to represent Cambodia, which is duly proud of them.
It has been a mixed journey for the four athletes.
For instance marathon runner Hem Bunting, 23, who changed from football to running only five years ago because his mother thought football was too dangerous, nearly boycotted the games last month when he found himself too broke to buy shoes.
National Olympic Committee President and Tourism Minister Thong Khon dipped into his own pocket to keep Bunting on track.
At least one Cambodian swimmer who dropped out before she could be ranked gave the reason for her retirement as the poor quality of the water in the nation's threadbare Olympic Stadium swimming pool in the capital, which her mother said gave her hives.
Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Zhang Jinfeng welcomed the team off from Phnom Penh International Airport Wednesday, wishing them luck, but otherwise, their subdued departure went almost unnoticed.
5 comments:
May God bless Thong Khon a genuine Khmer, of limitless generosity.
A lightning strike slashing him in two will do just fine.
Amen.
Do Khmer people in and outside Cambodia need to raise money to support Cambodian atletists like they do to support Khmer soldiers defending Preah Vihear ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
I would like to help him and his mother some money directly, but I don't know how. I'm not Cambodian. All the credits go to his great mother who raised him properly.
GOD Bless all of them.
And next,when Cambodian soldiers need foods and other suplies when they face the Vietnamese in the East border,do " we" Khmers will do the same??????????????????
And next, when Cambodia armed forces have to face LAO?????
And next,when a lot of soldiers will get killed and injured in fifgting, do "we" need to raise money to pay their hospital bills, medicines, and to take care of their families to be able to survive???????
Those who want to drive around with their Lexus and keep their big villa they need to raise money. Under the vietcong government these thing will be confiscated and they give you a pair flip flop.
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