The American Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (AmCham) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) this morning, January 14, to work together to seek sponsorship to support Cambodian athletes as they prepare to compete in th 2028 Olympic Games, which will be held in Los Angeles, the US.
The signing ceremony for the Road to the 2028 Olympics project (MoU – LA Olympic Games 2028) was held at the NOCC headquarters, and attended by representatives from the US embassy.
AmCham president Casey Barnett told the media that funding for the education and training of athletes and coaches in the US cannot come solely from the government, but also from contributions by private companies.
“Today, we are launching a fundraising programme with sponsorship from a number of American companies to support the training of Cambodian athletes for the pride of Cambodia and the success of Cambodian athletes. Supporting sports means supporting two principles: first, sportsmanship — being honest and law-abiding; and second, overcoming obstacles to demonstrate one’s abilities within personal limits,” he said.
“These principles are essential for the development of Cambodia and for economic growth. They also contribute to success in business and other professions. That is why we want to support these principles by seeking sponsorship for Cambodian athletes, and we hope that through this support, we will see some Cambodian athletes successfully compete in the 2028 Olympic Games,” he added.
All parties viewed the MoU as a significant initiative to mobilize sponsorship in support of Cambodian athletes, enabling them to achieve success in their participation in the 2028 Olympic Games.
NOCC secretary-general Vath Chamroeun explained that the objective of the MoU is to mobilise additional sponsors — both individual philanthropists and companies, in Cambodia and in the US — to contribute to supporting the advanced training of Cambodian athletes as they prepare for the 2028 games.
“High-level training for athletes requires financial support and many other forms of assistance, because athletes must devote their lives, physical strength and mental energy to competing at this elite level. Therefore, we need to properly care for and nurture them, ensuring adequate support and full compliance with sports science standards,” he said.
“Today is a historic day for the Olympic movement in Cambodia, as we are undertaking an important mission to ensure that the Cambodian people, as well as our athletes, have hope and receive attention from the Olympic movement and all relevant partners,” he continued.
He expressed his gratitude to Barnett for his full support in making the MoU signing ceremony for the Road to the 2028 Olympics project a success, and for strengthening the confidence of Cambodian athletes as they prepare for this major global event.
Chamroeun also noted the participation of Benjamin Chiang, chargé d’affaires ad interim of the US embassy in Cambodia, who stated that the MoU represents a valuable opportunity to develop the sports sector and further strengthen relations between the peoples of the two countries.
“Support from the Embassy represents an important form of sports diplomacy, helping to bring the peoples of both countries closer together, enhance mutual understanding, and foster greater familiarity. We have also prepared campaigns to promote and help make the 2028 Olympic Games in the US more widely publicized throughout Cambodia,” he said.
