According to Thai media, Cambodia has informed Thailand of this decision, although the delegation has been in Bangkok since December 8 and some members attended the opening ceremony. Before the congress, Cambodia registered to compete in 12 sports with 137 members, including 72 athletes.
Thai media said the reason given was concerns about tensions in the Thailand - Cambodia border area, leading to warnings related to the safety of the country's sports delegation. The families of some athletes also expressed concern that if the situation develops badly and airlines limit operations, returning could be difficult.
The Cambodian side has apologized for the sudden decision. Mr. Thana Chaiprasit - General Secretary of the Thai Olympic Committee and Head of the Thai Sports Delegation affirmed that the host country is committed to ensuring the safety of the Cambodian delegation. He also said that in case Cambodia withdraws, the competition will continue as planned. For events with less than three participating teams, athletes will still be allowed to compete and the medal system will be adjusted accordingly.
The official announcement from Cambodia is expected to be announced at around 11am today - the start date of the first competition day of the 33rd SEA Games.
