DILI 03 march 2023 (TATOLI) – The President of the Republic, José Ramos Horta welcomes the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games torch presented by the secretary of state of the Ministry of Tourism and special envoy of the Cambodian SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games organizing committees, Hor Sarun.
The torch is landed, today, in Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, as part of its ongoing tour of the region covering all 10 ASEAN nations, including Timor-Leste.
Many Timorese athletes will join a torch relay event, to be held on april 4, at the Dili Sports Centre (GMT), with the presence of the President of the Republic, José Ramos Horta.
Timor-Leste is the fourth country to receive the torch tour, after the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
After Timor-Leste, the torch is making its way through the remaining ASEAN countries that will participate in the 32nd ASEAN Sea Games and 12th Para Games, which the Kingdom will host for the first time in history.
President Horta was delighted to welcome the team and extended his congratulations to Cambodia for its preparation and readiness to host the 32nd ASEAN Sea Games and Para Games.
Hor Sarun said his team was grateful to the President for his generosity and warm welcome, “We are proud that the President will be joining the torch relay.”
“Cambodia is proud to host both games and we are ready to welcome all delegates to participate in the competition,” Sarun reiterated.
The Special Envoy was accompanied by the President of the Timor-Leste National Olympic Committee (NOC), Francisco Kalbuadi Lay.
“It is an honor for the National Olympic Committee to accompany the Special Envoy, Hor Sarun, and his team during the torch presentation at the Presidential Palace,” Lay said.
The 32nd SEA Games will be held between may 5 and 17, 2023 and the 12th ASEAN Para Games will be held between june 3 and 9, 2023.
Both games are combined and called “Cambodia 2023” to reflect unity, diversity, and equality. The slogan of Cambodia 2023 is “Sport: Live in Peace”.
Around 54 Timorese athletes have been confirmed as ready to compete in both games.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
