Cambodia has withdrawn all of its athletes and staff from the 2025 SEA Games, citing fears of possible travel disruptions should the border conflict with Thailand intensify, according to the secretary-general of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, just one day after the 33rd Southeast Asian Games officially opened at Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok’s Bang Kapi district.
The sudden withdrawal came despite initial participation plans, which had already been reduced to 12 sports involving 137 athletes and officials.
Akarin Hiranprueck, a senior SEA Games official, confirmed the move on Wednesday morning. SEA Games chairman Chaiyapak Siriwat added that 30 Cambodian delegates had attended Tuesday’s opening ceremony and expressed appreciation for Thailand’s warm reception.
However, concerns escalated shortly after the ceremony concluded at around 2am.
According to Chaiyapak, Vath Chamroeun, secretary-general of Cambodia’s National Olympic Committee, informed him that parents of Cambodian athletes had grown increasingly uneasy about the deteriorating situation along the border.
Many feared their children could face significant travel complications, including the risk of being unable to return home if commercial flights between the two countries were disrupted or cancelled as tensions worsened.
As a result, Cambodian sports authorities decided to withdraw entirely as a precautionary measure. Officials said that an official letter outlining the country’s withdrawal will be submitted to the Thai organisers.
The Cambodian delegation is expected to leave Thailand on Wednesday, marking one of the most abrupt SEA Games withdrawals in recent history and underscoring the broader regional impact of the ongoing border conflict.
