Koe Ker Heritage Site 3rd Anniversary Celebrated with Heritage Run

In Preah Vihear province, Cambodia, a 'Heritage Run' was organized on the morning of September 17, 2026, by the Preah Vihear National Authority in collaboration with the Preah Vihear Provincial Administration and relevant institutions. The event aimed to celebrate the third anniversary of the inscription of the Koe Ker temple complex on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The sporting event attracted approximately 1200 tourists and participants, who ran a 7-kilometer course. Beyond promoting health and sports, the program sought to disseminate knowledge about heritage, enhance the value of cultural heritage assets, and attract tourists to visit the ancient temples and experience the natural scenery and biodiversity of the Koe Ker heritage site. It also aimed to increase awareness and foster a spirit among the younger generation to participate in the protection and conservation of national cultural heritage. The Preah Vihear National Authority highlighted that the recognition of the former capital, Koe Ker, as a World Heritage site on September 17, 2023, is a significant source of pride for Cambodia. Over the past three years, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, the Preah Vihear National Authority, and partner organizations have been diligently engaged in numerous important tasks. These include the conservation and restoration of the Prasat Chon Pun cluster (Prasat Pram, Prasat Krahom, Prasat Koat Krada, and Prasat Thom), the restoration of the dancing Shiva statue, and in-depth research in archaeology, ethnology, architecture, and epigraphy to further understand the history of that era. On this occasion, the Preah Vihear National Authority expressed its profound gratitude to national institutions and international partner organizations such as UNESCO, the ALIPH Foundation, the French School of Asian Studies, the Cambodia Institute of Technology, the Royal University of Fine Arts, and universities from Japan, Canada, the United States, and Germany for their sponsorship and support of conservation and restoration activities. Concurrently, the authorities also thanked all the tourists for their enthusiastic participation, which demonstrates their commitment and contribution to protecting and enhancing the value of cultural heritage sites for the current and future generations. Source: CPP Cambodia