The inclusion of obscure sports in the South-East Asian Games—this year, obstacle racing and jet skiing—is often explained by the host’s hunger for medals
Games tradition. Hosts of the event, first held in 1959, have considerable discretion over its roster. Some of their selections reflect a desire to develop a sport. For instance, at the insistence of Cambodia’s fledgling cricket body, that sport, which is hardly played in the region, will feature for just the second time in the upcoming games. But the inclusion of an obscure sport is more often explained by the host’s hunger for medals.Games it won 63 medals .
Tinkering with the line-up also hinders the other stated goal of the games: regional unity. Thailand is incensed that the kick-boxing event has been given a Cambodian name—“Thai kick-boxers are therefore boycotting the games and a regional rivalry has been aggravated. Still, winning lots of medals plays well to the home crowd, which makes for good politics, especially for authoritarian regimes such as Cambodia’s. Its strongman, Hun Sen, has spent lavishly on his country’s first Games. Last month Mr Hun Sen announced that tickets for the games would be free. After decades of war and strife, Cambodia will have an opportunity to show off its recent progress.
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