[7] The sporting event will take place from May 5 to 17, 2023 in the capital city of Phnom Penh and the provinces of Siem Reap, Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, and Kep.
[8][14][15][16] According to the plan, Cambodia will build a new Olympic stadium with a total cost of about 150 million USD, in the northeast of the capital Phnom Penh, for the 2023 SEA Games competitions and other international sporting events.
[17][18][19] Following the host selection announcement, Prime Minister Hun Sen approved the final design of the Games' main stadium.
[20] During a state visit by Hun Sen to Beijing in May 2014, Chinese President and General Secretary of the Communist Party Xi Jinping promised to fund the construction of the main stadium of the new multi-purpose sports complex on the satellite city of Phnom Penh in Khan Chroy Changvar.
A multipurpose arena, the Morodok Techo National Sports Complex housed an Olympic swimming pool, an outdoor football pitch, a running track, tennis courts and dormitories for athletes.
Speaking at the public forum Macroeconomic Management and the 2023 Budget Law held in Phnom Penh on 25 January, Vissoth explained that setting up and hosting events at stadiums and other locations might end up costing more than $300 million.
The design on the handle of the torch was filled with multiple kbach chan (ក្បាច់ចន្ទ) connected together to signify the unity in achieving peace and success for the country and Southeast Asia community.
[25][26] The torch relay also began its journey to all other 9 countries in Southeast Asia starting on 24 March before returning back on 28 April.
[33][37] The official song of the Games was "Sports Live in Peace", performed by Preap Sovath, Aok Sokunkanha, Sok Seylalin, Ton Chanseyma and Sayaty.
This action resulted from the displeasure of the Cambodian public, who criticized the organizing committee for not displaying sufficient patriotism in its promotion of Cambodia's traditional martial arts.
[45] In January 2023, the IFMA sent warnings to each national federation to stop sending their teams to compete in the Kun Khmer competition, otherwise the violating national federations will be banned from upcoming World Games, Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, IFMA World Muaythai Championships, and other IFMA-sanctioned events.
[46] Participating nations are limited in the number of athletes they can enter in certain sports – for example martial arts, dragon boat, and esports, while such restriction is not applied to the host country.
The Philippines, which claims to be backed by other participating nations aside from the host, has protested such regulation alleging it to be a strategy for Cambodia to finish at least fourth in the medal tally.
[49] In the men's cross country mountain biking cycling event, originally Indonesia made a podium sweep.
However, according to the rules of the SEA Games Federation (SEAGF) article 37 paragraph C which prohibits the same country from sweeping the medals in one event.
Indonesian Olympic Committee Secretary General Harry Warganegara confirmed that Cambodia had submitted an apology to Indonesia, promising and ensuring that this incident would not be repeated in the duration of the games.
[58] Indonesian sports minister Dito Ariotedjo received an apology from his Cambodian counterpart Hangchuon Naron on the following day.
[61] Filipino athlete Calvin Oftana sustained a calf injury after slipping on the floor, thus ruling him out from the tournament before it even began.
[61] In the men's 20km race walk award ceremony, lighting failure led to the organizers using car headlights to illuminate the podium.
[64] Filipina karateka Junna Tsukii protested the judges' decision to award her a silver medal in the women's −50 kg kumite event.
Juanita Tanjung, the brand ambassador for Indonesia in the SEA Games, stated that the team's decision to forfeit was done for "upholding the nation's dignity and considering the unfavorable conditions of the situation."
With his opponents in the semi-final, Malaysia's Muhammad Khairul Shaddad Ardi, and the final, Indonesia's Bayu Lesmana, both walked out without any specific reasons.
[76][77][78] The basketball tournaments do not follow FIBA eligibility rules; players only had to have citizenship of the country they seek to represent their national team in the games.
[79][80] This meant that every national team could field as much naturalized players or dual citizens regardless of whether they acquired their passport by the age of 16 or not as per FIBA rules as they can.
In a video that has gone viral, Chourng was suddenly pulled off the field by a man presumed to be Cambodian officials, while celebrating her victory in the final.