barbaccara|Cambodia holds int'l marathon at UNESCO-listed Angkor heritage site

SIEM REAPbarbaccara, Cambodia, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- The ninth edition of the Angkor Empire Marathon took place on Sunday at the renowned Angkor Archaeological Park in northwest Cambodia, drawing around 3,000 participants from both domestic and international backgrounds.

Senior Minister Thong Khon, president of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC), highlighted that the annual event aims to promote sports and boost tourism in Angkor during the rainy season.

"Among the participants, 815 are international runners from 51 countries and regions, with the majority coming from Japan, China, Vietnam, the United Kingdom, and Thailand," he announced at the race's commencement.

The marathon featured four race categoriesbarbaccara: the full marathon (42km), a half marathon (21km), a 10km race, and a 3km fun run. Participants ran around Angkor Wat, a key ancient temple in the Angkor Archaeological Park, surrounded by stunning architectural beauty and scenic views.

According to NOCC results, the men's full marathon title was claimed by Cambodian Van Pheara, who finished in two hours, forty minutes, and fifty-one seconds. The women's full marathon was won by Irish runner Caitriona Jennings, with a finish time of 3:05:43.

Located in Siem Reap province, the 401-square-km Angkor Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1992, remains the most popular tourist destination in Cambodia.■