Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has announced that Cambodia will not charge foreign broadcasters for the live broadcasts of the upcoming 32nd SEA Games, to be held in May in Cambodia.
The Khmer Times reports that the Cambodian leader made the decision during a Council of Ministers meeting on Friday.
The decision will put an end to a dispute over the live broadcast fees Cambodia had intended to charge foreign broadcasters. Thai sport authorities have indicated that they might not want to pay what they described as the excessive fee Cambodia planned to charge.
The Khmer Times quoted the Cambodian Minister of Information, Khieu Kanharith, as confirming Hun Sen’s decision. “Samdech Techo ordered that no money will be taken money from foreign TV stations broadcasting the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia,” he said.
The sporting event, scheduled for May 5-17, will be the first SEA Games to be held in Cambodia.
Prime Minister Hun Sen also ordered all the SEA Games events to be open, free of charge, to members of the public.
The Khmer Times reported that Hun Sen has assured people who have already bought tickets that they will be refunded.
Following Hun Sen’s announcement, the Cambodian SEA Games-ASEAN Para Games Organising Committees confirmed that SEA Games tickets are free for both Cambodians and foreigners.
