The CNVLD was greatly honoured this week when Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akeamohasenapadei Decho Hun Sen donated $16,200 and 26 million Riel to the CNVLD to strengthen its long-term plan to see the Cambodian National Standing Volleyball team become World No.1 and more international sports events hosted in the nation.

In a gesture of unprecedented generosity, Prime Minister Samdech Akeamohasenapadei Decho Hun Sen made the donation on Saturday despite the disappointing performance of the Cambodian team in the latter stages of the Cambodia Cellcard 2009 WOVD Volleyball World Cup. Cambodia lost to Slovakia in the Semi-Finals and Poland in the 3^rd Place Play-Off after they had beaten Poland, Slovakia, India and Malaysia in the opening rounds of the competition. Germany went on to claim their 3^rd successive World Cup title.

CNVLD Secretary General Chris Minko said on Wednesday that “The CNVLD is deeply honoured by the generosity of Samdech Akeamohasenapadei Decho Hun Sen and moved by his genuine conviction that Cambodia can indeed become World No.1. The CNVLD will use Samdech Akeamohasenapadei Decho Hun Sen’s funds and this opportunity to build a completely new Cambodian National Team which will have the very firm objective to be World Champions. Furthermore we are humbled by the recognition at the very highest level that the CNVLD is the most professional and successful sports organisation in Cambodia and will worker even harder to continue producing results.”

Secretary General Chris Minko went on to describe plans already made following the conclusion of the Cambodia Cellcard 2009 WOVD Volleyball World Cup for more international competitions, “We have already secured agreement for Cambodia to host a regional ASEAN Championship Tournament in 2010 and the Cambodian National Team has been formally invited to participate in a Goodwill Tournament in Tehran, Iran in mid-2010. Despite the disappointment of Cambodia only achieving 4^th in the World Cup, the response to the tournament both here in Cambodia and from the international teams and officials who participated has been overwhelmingly positive and Cambodia should be exceptionally proud at successfully proving that it has the capacity to host elite level international sports events. The CNVLD is absolutely committed to ensuring that the wish of Samdech Akeamohasenapadei Decho Hun Sen to see more such events hosted in Cambodia is fulfilled to the highest possible quality.”

The CNVLD has been honoured to have Prime Minister Samdech Akeamohasenapadei Decho Hun Sen as Patron since 1999 and with the 10^th Anniversary of the Cellcard National Volleyball League approaching in 2010, the organisation has become an integral part of Cambodian society and popular culture. Very few athletes with a disability in any nation enjoy such a revered status as the Cambodian athletes of the CNVLD who are fondly regarded as the nation’s genuine sporting heroes.

The CNVLD wishes to sincerely thank Prime Minister Samdech Akeamohasenpadei Decho Hun Sen for his generosity and support for the athletes with a disability of Cambodia and assures him of its steadfast determination to see Cambodia become the ASEAN Centre for Disability Sport and the Cambodian National Standing Volleyball Team become World No.1.

The CNVLD and Cambodian National Standing Volleyball Team: Still Going for Gold in 2010!