The Morodok Techo National Stadium, funded and built by China, served as the major site for many events at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games, which was held from May 5 to 17 in Cambodia. (PHOTO: XINHUA)

By GONG Qian

The 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) was held from May 5 to 17 in Cambodia, with the country hosting it for the first time in 64 years. Cambodia has treated the event as an opportunity to burnish its regional and international image, Arab News reported.

During the event, the sparkling Morodok Techo National Stadium, with its unique design, was put under the spotlight. The 60,000-seater stadium, Cambodia's biggest national stadium, hosted the opening and closing ceremony of the games, and served as the major site for many events, including the football, swimming, and track and field competitions.

Funded and built by China, the stadium is a symbol of the unbreakable "iron-clad" friendship between Cambodia and China in the words of Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The stadium is designed to resemble a ship with two 99-meter "prow" structures located at either end, recognizing that Chinese people used to travel by sailing ship to Cambodia. The shape is also inspired by two palm pressed hands in the welcoming "namaste" greeting of Cambodia. Additionally, the stadium is surrounded by a moat that has been inspired by the body of water encompassing the Angkor Wat temple complex in the country.

Hailed as a historic sports facility in the country by Cambodia's Minister of Tourism Thong Khon, the construction of the stadium adopted a principle of going green and innovation. Huge emphasis was put on natural ventilation, shading and use of sunlight. Water and energy consumption are also minimized, while materials used should reduce maintenance costs.

In 2022, the Morodok Techo National Stadium Project won the Global Best Projects Awards of Engineering News-Record (ENR). The award is reputed to be the "Oscar" in the engineering industry and ENR is the world's most authoritative academic journal in engineering and construction.

"The team formed a complex-shaped formwork system and an inclined cable-tower building platform to help construct the unusually shaped cable towers with large inclinations. The comprehensive multi-functional venue not only meets requirements for large-scale intercontinental competitions, but it can also host performances, exhibitions and conferences," said ENR.

The Institution of Structural Engineers (ISE), a British professional body founded in 1908 for structural engineers, also showed its appreciation for the application of an innovative cable-stayed tensile structural system of the stadium. Such an innovative method for connecting the ring cables helped to solve the problem of slipping resistance under large differential cable forces and eased installation whilst improving reliability, said ISE. "The impact and influence of the structural engineering on the stadium is evident and serves as a good example of how we as structural engineers can deliver creative solutions which add value," ISE added.

Hun Sen profoundly thanked the Chinese government for the support in constructing the national stadium, which is also a direct benefit of close cooperation between Cambodia and China under the Belt and Road Initiative.

"This is an achievement made possible by the immeasurably good hearts of China's leaders and the Chinese people on behalf of the Cambodian people," said Hun Sen at the inauguration of the stadium in 2021.