The Cambodian government is "set to invest heavily in the future of national sport" following a decision to create an inter-ministerial committee to "manage the construction of an Olympic Park-style facility," according to Ponlok & Chamroeun of the PHNOM PENH POST. The 94-hectare plot "earmarked for the development" was "rubber stamped" by Prime Minister Hun Sen earlier this week. Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuktema has been named as head of the committee and has already moved forward with the establishment of four subcommittees including a technical, dispute resolving, construction management, and land and building surveying committee. The total cost of Morodok Techo National Sports Complex has not yet officially been announced, but it is believed that the government will be "bearing the total cost" even though the municipality granted the land. Engineering experts have "estimated an expenditure" of between $100M and $150M. The blueprint consists of six arenas and a weights training gym for up to 1,500 elite athletes. The 43,000-seat main stadium will cover a plot of nine hectares and house a football pitch and running track. A multipurpose indoor stadium on 3.6 hectares will seat 15,000 spectators, while a swimming centre on a similarly sized area of land will be able to host 6,000 people. There is also a proposed 3,700-seat badminton and table tennis hall, a 3,700-seat gymnastics and traditional sports hall and a 3,000-seate sports hall for basketball, volleyball and futsal (PHNOM PENH POST, 8/24).
