Organisers of the 32^nd SEA Games have announced 38 official sports which will be played at the event in May in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

An aerial view of the Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The stadium will host the opening and closing ceremonies and different sports during the May 5-17 SEA Games. XINHUA/VNA Photo

Competitors will take part in a record 608 events when the tournament is held from May 5 to 17. The previous record was set in 2019 at the 30^th Games when there were 530 events.

The Morodok Techo National Stadium will be the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies.

The final list gathers many Olympic sports such as athletics, aquatic sports, boxing, fencing, football and gymnastics.

Martial arts such as karate, judo, taekwondo, pencak silat and a group of traditional and local martial arts such as kun bokator arnis, jujitsu, kick boxing, vovinam and kun khmer are listed as official sports.

New and unfamiliar sports will be jet ski, obstacle race, floorball and breakdancing.

Teqball, a ball sport that is played on a curved table combining elements of football and table tennis, is confirmed as a demonstration sport.

The hosts denied requests of other countries who proposed to add Olympic sports such as rowing, canoeing, shooting and archery in the final list, saying they do not have athletes and suitable facilities to hold these events.

Cambodia also ruled that only host athletes can compete in 100 per cent of combat sports and martial arts while the rest could only take part in 70 per cent of total events.

This regulation has been strongly objected by all other countries but it is a final decision.

On October 17, Cambodia began the 200-day countdown to the main event.

After the SEA Games, Cambodia will host the 12^th Para Games from June 3 to 9.

Source: VNS