Cambodia hosts int'l half marathon at Angkor world heritage site

SIEM REAP, Cambodia, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- About 8,000 professional and amateur athletes from 78 countries and regions took part in the 19th Angkor Wat International Half Marathon on Sunday at the complex of Angkor Wat Temple, a world heritage site.

Cambodian Tourism Minister Thong Khon, president of the National Olympic Committee, said some 5,000 were foreign runners and 3,000 were Cambodians.

He said the number of participants this year was up 5.5 percent on a yearly basis.

"Your presence at this event from around the world clearly reflects your confidence in security, safety and political stability in Cambodia," he said before starting the race.

The annual event is aimed to promote sports and tourism, and the proceeds from the event will partly go to local charities, particularly organizations working for landmine victims.

The men's 21-km race was won by Cambodia's Ma Viro in 1:16:10, his country fellow Phan Sopheak finished second in 1:21:41, and Britain's Thomas Booth came at third in 1:22:15.

The women's 21-km run was awarded to Singapore's Vivian Tang who finished in 1:28:05, Canada's Tracy Whiting Tary took the second place in 1:33:21 and Laura Kighlinger of the United States was third in 1:34:10.

There were also a 10-km race and a 3-km fun run at the event.

Angkor Wat Temple, the kingdom's largest tourism destination, is situated in Siem Reap province, some 315 km northwest of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.

The site received 2.23 million foreign visitors last year, and around 1.74 million in the first nine months of this year, according to the Ministry of Tourism.