The Lowdown on Temple Town
April 26 - MAY 2, 2013
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FULL MARATHON DEBUTS NEXT YEAR New governor for Siem Reap By Thik Kaliyann
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iem Reap, renowned for its annual Angkor Wat International Half Marathon race run in December, will now be host to a full marathon to be held in the low season to attract more visitors to town. The inaugural 42 kilometre full marathon will be held next year, on August 17, 2014, according to the event manager Muy Lath, and will be called the ‘Angkor Empire Full Marathon.’ He added that, like the half marathon, disabled people can also compete. Muy Lath said the website for the first Angkor Empire Full Marathon is now under construction, and will be finished next month. But organisers have wasted no time in gearing up for the marathon – officials were in Siem Reap last week busily signing up sponsors, and some details were released about the route which will take runners into the heart of
Last year’s half marathon attracted a record field of contenders . PHOTOS SUPPLIED
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town. And, like the half marathon, the majority of the route will be through the Angkor Archeological Park, a World Heritage site. So as of next year Siem Reap will become an international runner’s paradise, with two major races: the full marathon in August and the half marathon in December. Last year the registered number of runners for the 17th Angkor Wat International Half Marathon was 6,241, and this year Muy Lath
By Thik Kaliyann
hopes the number will top 7,000 participants. But it is too early to predict the number of runners who will compete in the full marathon. The half marathon is an internationally recognised charity to raise funds for the relief of victims of antipersonnel mines in Cambodia. It has been held annually to give courage and hope to victims of land mines, and as part of an ongoing campaign for a ban on the inhumane use of antipersonnel mines.
Bike ride from Laos to raise funds for hospital By Miranda Glasser A five-day fund-raising bike ride from the Laos border to Siem Reap will kick off on May14, led by six-time national biking champion and former Olympic Cycling Federation member, Mr Lucky, aka Samnang Meas, who also won the 2012 Angkor Wat Bike Race. Funds raised will go to the Angkor Hospital for Children. Ride organiser and PEPY Tours coordinator Choch Chor said that on May 14 six riders, Khmer and western, will set out from the Laos-Cambodia border, making their way to Siem Reap, covering approximately 450 kilometres along the way. “We will leave Siem Reap on May 10,� Choch said. “On May 12 we arrive at the border and
we will explore, take it easy and prepare for the bike ride. On May 14 we leave from the border, down to Steung Treung, then to Preah Vihear province, to Ko Ker temple and from there to Beng Melea. We’ll finish in front of Angkor Wat.� The group will no doubt be helped in their efforts by the presence of group leader, Samnang Meas. “He is an incredible man,� Choch said. “He loves cycling. He knows most of the Cambodian dirt roads. He’s been riding bicycles everywhere so that is a big help. Without him it would be hard because we don’t know the routes.� Choch Chor said the idea was conceived following a KhmerTalks session. KhmerTalks is similar to ideas-sharing concept TEDX, but designed for Khmers, with all talks
Bike ride organiser Choch Chor with eager KhmerTalks Siem Reap co-founders, at Angkor Wat. PHOTO
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in Khmer. Talks take place in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. “I volunteer for KhmerTalks Siem Reap,� Choch said. “We’ve hosted events here four or five times already and each time we try to raise a bit of money for the children’s hospital. A while ago we were discussing if we could do anything different. I’ve been doing a lot of bike riding lately
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so I thought of a bike ride. We all agreed.� Choch said that as well as raising money for the hospital, riders also want to encourage people to donate blood. He said that a lack of information and a fear that it may be dangerous stops a lot of people donating blood. “They need to know that it is not dangerous, and it’s giving those who need blood an opportunity to live another day.� He added, “The other idea is to raise awareness in Cambodia’s younger generation about getting involved with social action. To encourage them to give whatever they can – their time, their money, their materials – to whatever is needed around them. It doesn’t have to be the children’s hospital, that’s just one example.�
Rumours, speculation and inside tips about a new governor being installed in Siem Reap province have been swirling since July last year. On November 23 last year Insider’s Man About columnist reported, “Who will be the next governor of Siem Reap? The rumour mill is running rife, and the smart money seems to be on Khim Bun Song, the owner of the five-star hotel, Borei Angkor Resort and Spa. “Khim Bun Song is one of four deputy governors of Siem Reap, and he is also a Brigadier General in charge of the Siem Reap Military Command. “But Siem Reap officialdom is remaining tight lipped about who will be Sou Phirin’s successor. Bun Tharith, another Siem Reap deputy governor said, ‘I don’t know about this matter. But if we get some information, we will surely let Siem Reap residents know’.� On Monday this week Bun Tharith, true to his word, informed Insider that as of April 18, the installment of a new governor for Siem Reap became official.
Bun Tharith told Insider, “Khim Bun Song, Siem Reap Military Commander is going to replace Sou Phirin’s position as governor of Siem Reap province.� Bun Tharith added that a ceremony to install the new governor will be held soon, but a firm date has not yet been advised. On April 18, while speaking during the inauguration of a new administration building of Kampot province, Prime Minister Hun Sen said that ten cities and provinces would get new governors. He said the governor of Oddar Meanchy would be replaced due to ill health, and the governor of Banteay Meanchey province would stand down because he was running as a political candidate in the July general election. Eight other governors would retire due to age and the Siem Reap governor was included in this list, along with the governors of KampongThom, Kampong Cham, Stung Treng, Kandal, Kampong Speu, Mondolkiri, and Phnom Penh Municipality. Governor’s terms run for four years and the retirement age is 60.
Siem Reap’s new district governor, Khim Bun Song. PHOTO SUPPLIED