Cambodian Olympians quietly depart for Beijing

Aug 6, 2008
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.

1st group of Cambodian delegation leaves for Beijing

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- The first group of Cambodia's Olympic delegation left here on Wednesday for Beijing to attend the Olympic Games, which is scheduled to open on Friday.

The group of delegation has eight members, including a marathon runner, a sprinter and their coach, one swimmer and the coach, one team leader, an official and one doctor.

Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Zhang Jinfeng, who went to the Phnom Penh International Airport to see the delegation off, praised their morale and wished them success.

In addition, a reporter from local Chinese newspaper the Cambodia Sin Chew daily also went with the delegation on Wednesday to cover the Beijing Olympics.

Other delegation members, including Tourism Minister and National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) president Thong Khon, NOCC secretary general Mea Sarun, another swimmer, an official and two youths attending the Olympic Summer Camp, will depart to Beijing on Thursday.

Cambodia first attended the Olympics in 1959, then quit for a long time due to civil war. It resumed its participation in 1996 to attend the Atlanta Olympics and later sent delegations to the Sydney Games in 2000 and the Athens Games in 2004.

It's that time of the year again: Royal family leaves for Beijing

Cambodian former king leaves for Beijing

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian retired king Norodom Sihanouk and his wife Monineath Sihanouk, accompanied by their son King Norodom Sihamoni, left here on Friday for Beijing for routine medical checkup and rest.

They were seen off at the Phnom Penh International Airport by Senate President Chea Sim, National Assembly President Heng Samrin, Prime Minister Hun Sen, other government officials, royal family members and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Zhang Jinfeng.

During the stay in China, Sihanouk, his wife and Sihamoni are scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics on August 8.

Sihamoni will return home in about two weeks, a royal palace official said at the airport, adding that Sihanouk and his wife will stay much longer.

The couple's last trip to China for medical checkup was in April 2008.

The 85-year-old former king suffers from diabetes and has had colon cancer. He abdicated his throne to Sihamoni in October 2004.

TV footage of the departure of the royal family to Beijing

Cambodian retired king arrives in Beijing for routine medical checkup

BEIJING, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian retired king Norodom Sihanouk and his wife Monineath Sihanouk, accompanied by their son King Norodom Sihamoni, arrived here Wednesday afternoon for routine health checkup and rest.

They were welcomed at the airport by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Li Jinzhang and Cambodian Ambassador to China Khek Caimealy Sysoda.

The 85-year-old former king suffers from diabetes and has had colon cancer. He abdicated his throne to his son in October 2004.

Royal departure to Beijing

Former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk (C) and his wife queen Monineath (L) greet government officials before departing Phnom Penh International airport November 28, 2007. Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni accompanies his father former King Norodom Sihanouk and mother queen Monineath, who suffers from a number of serious illnesses, including cancer, as they prepare to travel to China for medical check-ups. REUTERS/Khem Sovannara

Former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk (C) and his wife queen Monineath (L) greet government officials before departing Phnom Penh International airport November 28, 2007. Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni accompanies his father former King Norodom Sihanouk and mother queen Monineath, who suffers from a number of serious illnesses, including cancer, as they prepare to travel to China for medical check-ups. REUTERS/Khem Sovannara

Former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk with his wife queen Monineath (C) and King Norodom Sihamoni (L) greet government officials before departing from Phnom Penh International airport November 28, 2007 . Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni accompanies his father former King Norodom Sihanouk and mother queen Monineath, who suffers from a number of serious illnesses, including cancer, as they prepare to travel to China for medical check-ups. REUTERS/Khem Sovannara
Cambodia prime minister Hun Sen (L) talks with opposition party leader Sam Rainsy at Phnom Penh international airport during the departure of the former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk, his wife Queen Monineath and their son King Norodom Sihamoni from Phnom Penh to Beijing November28, 2007. REUTERS/Khem Sovannara

Cambodian king, parents leave for China

Wed, 28 Nov 2007
DPA

Phnom Penh - Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni accompanied his elderly parents, former king Norodom Sihanouk and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath, to Beijing Wednesday. Royal palace cabinet member Oum Daravuth said the royals will undergo routine medical tests, and King Sihamoni will return to Cambodia next week, although his parents will stay on for an unspecified time.

Sihanouk, 85, has twice beaten colon cancer and suffers from a range of other ailments including diabetes and high blood pressure. Earlier this year Foreign Ministry sources said his wife, Monineath, had also had a health scare, although they did not give details.

Sihanouk last returned from China last April to celebrate Khmer New Year and stayed on to commemorate the anniversaries of Cambodia's independence from France, his own birthday and his son's coronation anniversary at home.

He abdicated in favour of his son in 2004, citing his advancing age and ill health, and has lived in Beijing most of the time since.

Goodbye cruel Phnom Penh ... Hello sweet Beijing!

Cambodia's retired King Norodom Sihanouk (R) and his wife Queen Monineath greet well-wishers at Phnom Penh int'l airport on Sept. 2, 2006. (Xinhua/Reuters File Photo)

Cambodian former king leaves for Beijing

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian retired king Norodom Sihanouk and his wife Monineath Sihanouk, accompanied by their son King Norodom Sihamoni, left here on Wednesday morning for Beijing, China for routine medical checkup and rest.

They were seen off at the Phnom Penh International Airport by Senate President Chea Sim, National Assembly President Heng Samrin, Prime Minister Hun Sen, other government officials, royal family members and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Zhang Jinfeng.

The couple's last trip to China for medical checkup ended in April 2007.

The 85-year-old former king suffers from diabetes and has had colon cancer. He abdicated his throne to his son in October 2004.

Former monarch to return to Beijing at the end of the month

25 November 2007
By Sok Serey
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

According to a source, former Cambodian monarch, King Norodom Sihanouk, plans to leave Cambodia to Beijing, the People’s Republic of China, on 28 November, so that Chinese doctors can check his health.

At the same time, King Norodom Sihamoni, his son, also plans to accompany his parents to Beijing also.

Oum Daravuth, a high-ranking official of the royal cabinet of the royal palace, told RFA: “Normally, for his health checkup, he (King-Father) must follow it up. At the appointed time and date, he must enter the hospital. If during the checkup, there are some issues that arise, they will check some more, if there are none, he will return back sooner, this is how it is. The king will travel with his parents also.”

Oum Daravuth said that the former monarch plans to remain in Beijing as prescribed by his Chinese doctors, but that King Sihamoni could stay in Beijing between one week to 10-day only before returning back to Cambodia.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said on this issue: “All Cambodian people want the 3: King-Father, Queen-Mother, King Norodom Sihamoni, to stay in Cambodia for a long period of time. The longer their presence, the better it is, especially during the period leading to the election, and during the election campaign, when the situation usually becomes really tense.”

Regarding the plan for the former monarch to leave Cambodia, Khieu Kanharith, government spokesman, said that the former monarch’s plan to leave is his usual habit in order to checkup on his health.

Khieu Kanharith said: “The (former) king has his schedule to checkup on his health, and we pray that he has a good health, long life, in order to lead the country, this goes to both the new king and the former king.”

Former Cambodian monarch, 85-year-old King Norodom Sihanouk, announced his retirement on 2004 because of his poor health and his old age.

On 14 October 2004, the council of the throne selected one of his sons, then-Prince Norodom Sihamoni, to become the king, and his coronation was preformed on 29 October 2004.

Even though the former king has retired because of his old age and poor health, he is still considered as a symbol of national reconciliation and unification by Cambodian politicians.