Cambodia to host half marathon at Angkor site

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia will host the 19th international half marathon at the complex of the Angkor Wat temple, a World Heritage Site, in northwestern Siem Reap province on Dec. 7, sports officials said on Thursday.

Vath Chamroeun, secretary general of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC), said in a press conference that so far, more than 4,000 professional and amateur athletes from 65 countries and regions have registered in various categories for the event.

Tourism minister and NOCC's president Thong Khon said in the press briefing that proceeds raised from the event will go for the Cambodian Red Cross and land mine victims.

"The event is also vital to promote sports and tourism at the Angkor Wat temple," he said.

Run registration fee is 45 U.S. dollars for a foreigner and five U.S. dollars for a Cambodian national.

The competition will take place in front of the centerpiece of Angkor Wat temple, and athletes will run around the temple in different distances of 21 km, 10 km, and three km fun run.

The last year's event attracted some 7,580 professional and amateur athletes from 75 countries and regions.

Angkor Wat temple, the kingdom's largest tourism destination, received 1.74 million foreign tourists in the first nine months of this year, up 11 percent over the same period last year, according to a tourism report.

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