Cambodian Minister Of Youth And Sports Apologizes For The Incident Of The Indonesian Flag

The dancers carried the Indonesian flag in a reversed position at the opening ceremony of the XXXII/2023 SEA Games in Cambodia at the Morodok Techo National Stadium, Phnom Penh, Friday (5/5/2023). (DOC. ANTARA)

PHNOM PENH - The opening ceremony of the 2023 SEA Games Opening Ceremony which took place on Friday, May 5, was marked by the incident of the Indonesian flag, Red-White, overturned.

For this incident, Cambodian Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Hang Chuon Naron met with the Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Indonesia Dito Ariotedjo at Phnom Penh, Saturday discussing the incident of the Red and White flag overturned at the opening of the 2023 SEA Games.

The Cambodian government, according to Dito as quoted from his social media accounts, apologized for the incident that occurred at the opening of the 2023 SEA Games at the Morodok Techo National Stadium, Phnom Penh, Friday (5/5).

"We apologize for the incident (the best Red and White flag) that occurred yesterday. We wish Indonesia success at the 2023 SEA Games," said Cambodian Menpora Hang Chuon Naron, quoted from the social media account of Menpora Dito Ariotedjo.

Through his upload, Dito, who became the youngest Indonesian minister, also asked for an apology from the Cambodian government to be accepted by the Indonesian people.

"I'm sorry, this was not intentional... Earlier he was really from the heart," Dito wrote, quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, May 5.

Following the best Red and White flag incident in the series of openings of the 2023 SEA Games, the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) expressed its official objection through a letter numbered 5.5.2/NOC-INA/SET/2023 dated May 5, which was signed by Harry Warganegara and addressed to the Secretary-General of the Cambodian NOC and CEO of the CAMSOC Vath Chamroeun.

"NOC Indonesia officially submitted its objection to the wrong CAMSOC to install the Indonesian flag properly before the start of the 32th SEA Games 32th Ceremony 2023 at the Morodok Techno National Stadium, Phnom Phen," Harry said in the letter.

This is the first time Cambodia has hosted a sports event in solidarity with Southeast Asian countries. The Indonesian team for the Cambodian SEA Games led by Chef de Mission (CdM) Lexyndo Hakim participated in 31 sports.