Olympics no go for Neko

Cambodian distance runner Hem Bunting (c) celebrates his victory in the 2011 Phnom Penh Half Marathon alongside second placed Neko Hiroshi (r) and Kieng Samorn in third. Photograph: Sreng Meng Srun/Phnom Penh Post

Tuesday, 08 May 2012
Dan Riley and Chhorn Norn
The Phnom Penh Post

The National Olympic Committee of Cambodia’s controversial choice of marathon runner for the 2012 Summer Olympics looks set to miss out on a trip to London after the International Association of Athletics Federations ruled him ineligible, NOCC officials revealed earlier today.

Japan-born professional comedian Kuniaki Takizaki, more commonly known by his stage name Neko Hiroshi, had been given the nod by the NOCC to join their delegation as one of five wildcards granted by the International Olympics Committee to participate in London.

However, a fierce media backlash in his homeland had brought the issue of nationality to the IAAF, which in turn spoke with Cambodia’s governing body, the Khmer Amateur Athletics Federation, over the past few weeks to help clarify Neko’s status in the Kingdom.

An Olympic Charter by-law regarding athletes who have never officially represented their country of birth offered the NOCC the opportunity to allow the Japanese man to be part of their 2012 Olympic team providing he obtained Cambodian citizenship at least a year prior to competing.

Athletics: Comedian runs away with Cambodia’s Olympic hopes

Hem Bunting (Photo: BBC News)

Sunday, May 06, 2012
AFP

“I’m a son of Cambodians. I was born in Cambodia. I tried to find sponsors, to get training abroad but for what?”

PHNOM PENH: Cambodia has selected an eccentric Japanese comedian to compete in the men’s marathon at the 2012 Olympic Games – but the country’s best long-distance runner is not amused. His record time may be seven minutes faster than that of Japan-born television star Kuniaki Takizaki, mostly known for his quirky cat impressions, but Cambodian athlete Hem Bunting will not be competing in London in August. The 27-year-old quit the national team in a huff last year after complaining about training conditions and falling out with the national athletics federation, prompting the body to tap Takizaki for a wild card to the Games.

But the move has proved controversial in both countries, setting Internet forums abuzz with critics bemoaning Takizaki’s hasty nationality change late last year and arguing that Cambodia should be nurturing homegrown talent. “I wasn’t happy when I heard that the National Olympic Committee gave the wild card to Neko,” Bunting told AFP, referring to Takizaki’s stage name Neko Hiroshi, which translates as Hiroshi The Cat. “I see it as an injustice. Even though they’re not sending me to the Olympics, they should choose qualified Cambodians,” he said as he laced up his shoes for an afternoon run at the Olympic Stadium in the capital Phnom Penh. Bunting’s last hope to get to the Olympics under his own steam was dashed at the Paris marathon last month when he failed to meet the qualifying time that would have earned him an automatic berth. He ran a personal best and set a new Cambodian record of 2:23:29 for the 42.2-kilometre course, but fell short of the required time of 2:18.

Japanese comedian Hiroshi Neko should run with respect for adopted Cambodia

Hem Bunting sleeps on cardboard in his room

April 23, 2012
By Hiroshi Ochiai, Editorial Board
Mainichi Japan

Japanese comedian Hiroshi Neko, who acquired Cambodian citizenship in order to appear in the London Olympics, is being exposed to criticism over his decision. Since changing his nationality last fall, he continues to live based out of Japan, and there is no end to those calling it a cheap move to use citizenship as a way to compete in the Olympics.

On March 25, the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia announced that it had chosen Neko as the country's men's marathon representative. Neko's best record is 2 hours, 30 minutes and 26 seconds, a time over the B-class entry standard of 2 hours and 18 minutes. However, for Olympic track and field events, if there are no athletes who beat the entry standards for any of the events, then an exception allows one male and one female athlete to each compete in one event. This exception allows Neko to compete.

Commenting on the controversial situation, Olympic marathon medalist Yuko Arimori, who has supported Cambodia for many years through running events and other methods, was quoted as saying with a tearful voice, "When I think of the feelings of the young athlete who is giving up his position to a Japanese, I feel frustration." Neko has acknowledged the criticism against him, saying, "There is a lot of tough criticism, like asking what the Cambodian people think."

Controversy deepens over Neko's selection [-Money talks for Hiroshi Neko]

Hem Bunting

Hiroshi Neko

Apr. 17, 2012
Jiji-Daily Yomiuri (Japan)

MOSCOW--Cambodia's controversial decision to have a Japanese-born comedian represent the country in the men's marathon at the London Olympics took another twist when a native-born runner and rival ran a better time at Sunday's Paris Marathon.

Hem Bunting, who represented Cambodia at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, finished 42nd in Paris in a national-record 2 hours 23 minutes 29 seconds--nearly seven minutes better than Hiroshi Neko's best time.

Neko, whose real name is Kuniaki Takizaki, became a Cambodian citizen in order to realize his dream of running in the London Olympics.

"I don't know if I can go to London, but I still want to go," Bunting was reported as saying. "Neko is slower than me. It is not fair."

However, Cambodia Olympic Commitee secretary general Vath Chamroeun said that even though Bunting ran a superior time, he would not be selected for the Olympic team.

Bunting, who has run in numerous major meets for his country, had a falling out with the national athletics federation over the quality of training conditions in the Southeast Asian nation and left the national team last year.

Cambodian athletes return back home at the end of the Beijing Olympics

Cambodian athletes and trainers taking a picture with King Norodom Sihamoni (Photo: Cambodge Soir Hebdo)

26 August 2008
By Nhim Sophal
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the original article in French

Cambodia’s participation of the Beijing Olympics was very much appreciated in spite of the absence of medals. The efforts made by the Chinese hosts to welcome Khmer athletes were judged satisfactory.

Hem Thon, the swimming coach, indicated that the conditions for the preparation of the athletes were much better than those in previous games. The visit of King Sihamoni, who was visiting China, to the sport residence, was very appreciated. The royal family donated $600 to each athlete. Hem Thon reported about the king during his visit to the athlete residence: “The king was happy to meet the athletes during this world competition. He wished them great success and he also wished that they earn an important spot in this international arena.”

Cambodia which never won a single medal yet in any Olympic games, qualified 4 athletes to the competition: two swimmers and two runners. As for swimming, Hem Thon saluted the performance of Cambodian swimmers who are making rapid progress. Hem Thon Ponloeu broke his own record in the 50-m free-style swimming in 27.39 seconds, whereas the Thai swimmer made it in 28 seconds. Hem Thon Vitinin also broke her own record in the 100-m free-style swimming in 31.48 seconds, beating Thailand (32.14 seconds) and Japan (32.48 seconds). “The training method is the right one. With such a progress of the performances, we hope to win medals in 2011, during the SEA Games,” Hem Thon explained.

For his part, Hem Bunting –Cambodia’s best marathon runner who earned two medals during the last SEA Games in Thailand by beating his own personal records by 7 minutes – ended the Olympic marathon in 2:33 hours, about half an hour after the Kenyan Wansiru Samuel Kamau, the world champion. Bunting, who is participating the Olympics games for the first time, showed his perseverance and did not quit the race, unlike 25 other runners from developing countries. Hem Bunting placed himself 73 among the 76 runners who completed the marathon. “I cannot maintain the same performance as during the SEA Games because I have muscle problems in my foot. Furthermore, the trail in Beijing included 20 turns, this slowed me down and they worsened my muscle problem,” Hem Bunting said. Nevertheless, he acknowledged his defeat, but he considered it as an experience for his upcoming competitions. He also failed during his first participation at the SEA Games, before finally winning his two medals. Hem Bunting believed that the king was nevertheless satisfied with his performance.

In the future, Hem Bunting said that he will train intensely so that he can shine in the international arena.

Cambodian Olympics marathoner Hem Bunting

Cambodian Hem BunTing (L) trains with 19-year-old Sou Titlinda (R) in Phnom Penh July 12, 2008. Cambodia's Hem Bunting is certain his rivals' preparations for the Beijing Olympics marathon would have been a lot different to his. Unlike his fellow athletes, Bunting has no coach or sponsor and trains on the busy potholed streets of the impoverished nation's capital Phnom Penh. Picture taken July 12, 2008. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
Cambodia's marathon runner Hem Bunting (L), silver medalist in the 24th Southeast Asian Games in 2007, practices at the National Olympic stadium in Phnom Penh in this July 12, 2008 file photo. Born to a peasant family in a remote province of northeastern Cambodia 23 years ago, Bunting is one of only four athletes representing the war-scarred Southeast Asian nation in Beijing. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Cambodian marathoner running through poverty

Cambodian marathoner Hem Bunting (Photo: BBC)

Thu Aug 7, 2008
By Ek Madra

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodia's Hem Bunting is certain his rivals' preparations for the Beijing Olympics marathon would have been a lot different to his.

Unlike his fellow athletes, Bunting has no coach or sponsor and trains on the busy potholed streets of the impoverished nation's capital Phnom Penh.

He accepts he has to do it all by himself.

"I have been mostly training alone," Bunting told Reuters after a hazardous jog dodging potholes and motorcycles.

"I sometimes can't find a good place to practice because our national stadium is always being used by footballers.

"I've been doing this four years, but I do it because I love to run," added Bunting, whose best time is 24 minutes shy of the marathon world record.

Born to a peasant family in a remote province of northeastern Cambodia 23 years ago, Bunting is one of only four athletes representing the war-scarred Southeast Asian nation in Beijing.

He lives off just $30 a month and the $10 running shoes which helped him win two Southeast Asian Games medals last year have seen better days.

LONELY RUNS

"I think the one that costs $200 would be more suitable for an Olympic marathon," added Bunting, who said his energetic puppy sometimes joins him on his otherwise lonely runs.

"I have no money, what can I do?"

Cambodia has never won an Olympic medal and its greatest sporting success came in 1970 when its athletes won two silvers and three bronzes at the Asian Games in Bangkok.

A brutal civil war and a subsequent Olympic ban ensured there were no more after that.

Although a generous gesture, it is unlikely long-serving Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will have to pay the $10,000 he has promised athletes for a Beijing podium finish.

Cambodia has no budget for athletes and its sports chiefs have used handouts from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ensure 14 officials accompany its two swimmers and two runners in the Chinese capital.

The National Olympic committee, once accused of being freeloaders by Hun Sen, believes there is little point sending a bigger team.

"The Olympics Games is 10 times tougher than even the Asian Games," Olympic committee chief Meas Sarin told Reuters.

"We really don't have a hope of winning any medals."

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.

Olympic Near-Hopefuls Set for Beijing

Later this week, Cambodia's four Olympic hopefuls will see Beijing's National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, for themselves.

By Ros Sothea, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
05 August 2008

After training every day for two months, Cambodia's Olympiads are set to travel to Beijing to compete in the 2008 Summer Games, even if they hold little hope of bringing home the gold.

An excited, smiling Hem Thun Vitiny, an 18-year-old freestyle swimmer, was jogging early Tuesday to strengthen her muscles.

"I have never attended such kind of big Olympic game," she said later. "I hope that I can improve my performance, [but I] don't hope to win medal."

Later this week, she will join her uncle, butterfly swimmer Hem Thun Ponleu, along with marathoner Hem Bunting, no relation, and track sprinter Sou Thet Linda, in Beijing.

Hem Bunting, who claimed that he was ready to contest with other athletes from around the world, said he had little hope to win the medal because he had not been able to train properly.

"I don't dare to hope much because [the competitors] had a lot of training with enough equipment," he said Tuesday. "For us, we don't even have a proper training place and no equipment to train."

Cambodia was allowed to send the four athletes to join only two events, swimming and track, among 40 possible events.

The two swimmers will compete Aug. 14 and 15, while the two runners will compete Aug. 16 and 24.

"Our training was short, and there was a lot of rain in our country," Olympic coach Chay Kimsan said. "So we just hope to get ourselves some improvement."

Meas Sarin, secretary-general of the Cambodia Olympic National Committee, agreed.

"The result will not come up like what our people want because we are still very low and weak," he said.

Against the Odds: Hem Bunting

The Olympic athletes all live in a dilapidated stadium
[KI-Media: Note the cardboard used as bedding]
Cambodia's best Olympic hope says money - or lack of it - is his main problem

Monday, 21 July 2008
BBC News

"This is a wonderful thing that I can do for my country ... Nobody else can do it - only me" - Cambodian Marathon Olympian Hem Bunting

The lack of finance is a recurring theme in conversation with Cambodia's athletes

The BBC's Against the Odds series is following athletes heading to the Olympics despite huge obstacles.

Guy De Launey meets a Cambodian runner so poor he lives in the crumbling athletics stadium where he trains.

Hem Bunting proudly fishes his medals out of one of a line of narrow, wooden lockers. One is silver, the other is bronze, and they confirm his status as one of the best distance runners in Southeast Asia.

At the SEA Games in Thailand last year, only one man could beat Bunting in the marathon. Just two finished ahead of him in the 5,000m.

Soon he will represent Cambodia at the Olympic marathon in Beijing, one of just four athletes in his country's Olympic team.

Living in stadium

It is amazing that Bunting has come so far.

Hem Bunting
Best time in the marathon is 2:26:28 (World record, 2:04:26)
Aged 22; Weight 56kg; Height 1.67m

As he sits down on his simple wooden bed, with a mosquito net nailed above, he casts his eyes down the room. There are dozens of similar beds with barely enough room to walk between them.

This is where Cambodia's elite athletes live, all together in an improvised dormitory overlooking the swimming pool at Phnom Penh's crumbling Olympic Stadium.

Bunting says the living arrangements leave a lot to be desired.

"Sometimes my team-mates come back late at night when I am trying to get some rest," he complains.

Perhaps it would not be so bad if the morning starts were not so early. The sun has yet to rise when Bunting makes his way down to the dirt track to start his warm-up routine.

Second class citizens

Sometimes he restricts himself to laps around the perimeter.

That, however, is not ideal preparation for a marathon runner - especially as he has to swerve round crowds of early-morning exercisers shuffling round the track.

"There are too many people around," says Bunting. "I'm always having to slow down and swerve around them."

The elite athletes say they are often treated as second-class citizens by staff at the stadium.

On one recent morning they arrived to find the gates locked, and they were told they would have to train somewhere else.

The coaches were just as outraged as their charges - and, grim-faced, continued their track drills after everyone had squeezed through a gap in the perimeter fence.

No money for shoes

Bunting and his training partner Cheng Chandara mutter that it all boils down to cash.

If athletics were a rich sport, they reckon, they would not be facing these problems.

The lack of finance, however, is a recurring theme in any conversation with Cambodia's best Olympic hope.

He receives an allowance of less than $50 a month which leaves him hard-pressed to cover his basic living expenses.

A pair of running shoes costs around double that amount, and with no corporate sponsorship Bunting finds it tough to buy the equipment he needs.

The average Cambodian earns $380 per year, so Hem's relatives can only provide moral support - and even then, from a distance.

Traffic-choked streets

Bunting is one of nine children from a farming family in the remote province of Stung Treng, where sports officials spotted his talent at a provincial event and brought him to the capital.

Now he pounds the traffic-choked streets around Phnom Penh in the run-up to the Olympics.

With no large, green spaces in the city, putting the miles in means sucking up red dust and exhaust fumes from the lorries and SUV's which thunder past, and dodging the motorbikes driving the wrong way up the gutter.

At least it means that, unlike some famous marathon runners, Bunting has no concerns about pollution levels in Beijing.

With the Games just over the horizon, government officials and business people alike have started to wake up to the plight of the Olympian in their midst.

Several have pledged three-figure sums to Bunting to help with his equipment costs.

And despite all the hardship, Bunting is proud to be representing Cambodia.

"This is a wonderful thing that I can do for my country," he smiles. "Nobody else can do it - only me."

Cambodian marathoner trains himself for Olympics out of hope, hardship

By Xia Lin

PHNOM PENH, June 13 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-five year old runner Hem Bunting has been training himself each day here at the Olympic Stadium since the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) chose him to join the Beijing Olympics in August together with three other Khmer athletes.

"Of course I am very excited to have the chance to compete in the Olympics, but I don't hope to win a medal," English-language bi-weekly the Phnom Penh Post Friday quoted him as saying.

Selected by NOCC, the Cambodian team consists of two swimmers, a female sprint runner and Bunting, who will compete in men's marathon and 5,000 meters run.

The team owes its presence at the Olympics to regulations allowing some of the world's least developed countries to enter a man and woman in two sports categories without having to qualify.

Bunting, like the other three, now lives for a supreme dream, but leads a hard life short of finance and understanding.

"He is the number on marathon runner in Cambodia but he still trains in old shoes," Chea Chandara, Bunting's friend and training partner, told the Phnom Penh Post, while complaining fund shortage.

Bunting said that athletes struggled also due to limited public interest in the face of more popular sports like football and boxing.

"Cambodians have little understanding of athletics. They are only interested in sports they can bet on," he added.

The government may not be able to meet their desperate demand for sponsor, equipment and training ground, but provided enough morale support instead to guarantee their confidence in participation of the games.

Cambodian Tourism Minister and NOCC President Thong Khon Tuesday donated 200 U.S. dollars for each of the six Cambodian athletes and trainers heading for the Beijing Olympics.

"I just visited them and offered them my personal money," he said, adding that he had asked the committee to raise their stipend, which is currently set at 50 U.S. dollars each athlete per month for three months prior to the games.

Meanwhile, NOCC is currently finalizing an agreement with South Korea which would allow Bunting to train in Seoul for two months before the games start.

Cambodia will send a 15-member delegation to take part in the Olympic Games with focus on swimming and marathon. King Norodom Sihamoni and Education Minister Kol Pheng are also planning to attend the opening ceremony.

It is not the first time Cambodia has sent athletes to the Olympics.

The first post-war delegation of five Khmers competed at the Atlanta Games in 1996, and Cambodia subsequently sent four athletes to both Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004.

Tourism minister Thong Khon to participate in Beijing Olympics ... as a tourist?

Cambodia to send 15-member delegation to Beijing Olympics

PHNOM PENH, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia will send a 15-member delegation to participate in the Olympic Games in Beijing in August with eye on swimming and marathon medals, English-Khmer language newspaper the Cambodian Daily said Friday.

The team will include Thong Khon, tourism minister and president of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC), and depart for Beijing on August 7, the paper quoted Nhan Sok Visal, an NOCC administrator, as saying.

King Norodom Sihamoni and Education Minister Kol Pheng also plan to attend the opening ceremony of the games, he added.

Among the delegation members are 23-year-old Hem Bunting and 19-year-old female Sou Titlinda for marathon, and 18-year-old Hem Thon Ponloeu and his 16-year-old niece Hem Thon Vitiny for 50-meter free style swimming race, he said.

Hem Bunting won silver and bronze medals in track and field at the SEA Games in Thailand in December, he added.

It is not the first time Cambodia has sent athletes to the Olympics.

The first post-war delegation of five Khmers competed at the Atlanta Games in 1996, and Cambodia subsequently sent four athletes to both Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004.

Another Silver medal for Cambodia in men's race at Sea Games

12-09-2007
KORAT, Thailand
Excerpt from AFP

Indonesia's Yahuza Yahuza easily took the gold in the men's race in 2:23:46, winning by almost three minutes.

Cambodian Hem Bunting took the silver in 2:26:28 and Eduardo Buenavista of the Philippines came third in 2:27:21.

Latest medals table Sunday at the 24th SEA Games for Cambodia:

• Gold: 1
• Silver: 2
• Bronze: 5
• Total Medals: 8

Cambodia is second from last in terms of total medal counts, ahead of Brunei. Cambodia trails behind Laos by 3 medals. The top two medal winners of the 24th SEA Games are: Thailand with 165 medals, and Vietnam with 82 medals.