Cambodia suggests its SEA Games organization beats Thailand's amid criticism row

"For an event as major as the SEA Games, there was virtually no proper rehearsal and the budget was inadequate. Officials had to issue repeated apologies," Chamroeun was quoted as saying by Thairath in a report on Saturday, two days after his return from the host country.

"Anyone who watched the opening ceremony could clearly see that it could not compare with Cambodia’s 2023 SEA Games," he added.

On Dec. 10, Cambodia ordered its entire delegation to immediately leave Thailand, despite having attended the opening ceremony just a night prior.

Chamroeun sent an official withdrawal letter to the organizing committee that same day, citing safety concerns and requests from the athletes' families to have them "return home immediately."

The backdrop to this unprecedented withdrawal includes severe logistical challenges for the host nation.

Thailand began planning the ceremonies in March, but a change of government, severe flooding in several regions, and escalating border conflicts forced the organizing committee to drastically revise its plans.

Consequently, preparations were compressed into roughly one month, leading to an opening ceremony that was described by Chamroeun as being "marred by multiple technical errors and weak performances."

The ceremony on Dec. 9 was marred by flag errors, poor musical performances and a half-hour delay due to late arrival of VIPs.

Delegations from participating countries have also repeatedly complained about meal quality for athletes while netizens have pointed to controversy of medalists being forced to salute LED screens instead of real flags.

Beyond logistical criticisms, Chamroeun leveled serious accusations against the Thai government and military, claiming they acted against the Olympic spirit and values of fair play by launching border hostilities during the Games.

He argued that Thailand’s actions while hosting the event were fundamentally at odds with the principles of the international Olympic movement, accusing Thailand of being the aggressor that reignited hostilities.

Despite his harsh words for the state, Chamroeun acknowledged that the sports officials tried their best. He noted that Thailand’s SEA Games organizing committee and the National Olympic Committee of Thailand performed well regarding protocol and hospitality. However, he stressed that these efforts could not be divorced from the broader geopolitical context.

"The sports hosts welcomed us appropriately, but those in power in this country attacked our homes, burned our houses, and bombed our territory. How could we continue competing under such circumstances?" he told Thairath.

Cambodia has now become the first country in SEA Games history to participate in the opening ceremony but withdraw midway through the competition. The decision has reportedly received understanding and support from many ASEAN nations and international athletes concerned for the safety of their Cambodian counterparts.

Relations between the two neighbors have been tense since July due to border disputes. The situation deteriorated sharply on Dec. 7 following reports of gunfire exchanged between Cambodian and Thai troops along the northeastern border.

Despite the clash, Cambodian teams for swimming, taekwondo, and ju-jitsu arrived in Thailand the following day, participating in the flag-hoisting ceremony and the opening ceremony on Dec. 9 before the order came to withdraw.