CAMBODIA WATER FESTIVAL -- {WEB}
Metadata
- CAMBODIA WATER FESTIVAL -- {WEB}
- November 26, 2023
- Language English
- Transcript/Script CAMBODIA WATER FESTIVAL HEADLINE: Cambodia’s Dragon Boat Races make a Welcome Return TEASER: Racing resumes amid hopes for better times PUBLISHED AT: (DATE & TIME)11/26/23 BYLINE: Luke Hunt CONTRIBUTOR: David Brown, Vicheka Kol DATELINE: PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA VIDEOGRAPHER: Luke Hunt, David Brown, Vicheka Kol VIDEO EDITOR: David Brown SCRIPT EDITORS: Steve Hirsch, wpm VIDEO SOURCE (S): PLATFORMS: WEB _x_TV_x_ RADIO _x_ TRT:2:55 VID APPROVED BY:sv TYPE: EDITOR NOTES: )) ((INTRO:)) [[Cambodians are celebrating the return of dragon boat races at this year’s Water Festival after a three-year absence amid hopes it will bolster the tourism industry and an economy struggling to recover in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Luke Hunt reports.]] ((VIDEO: Wide shot of boats on the Tonle Sap)) ((VIDEO: Medium shot of dragon boats racing on the Tonle Sap)) ((VIDEO: Close-up shot of oarsman training on boat)) ((VIDEO: Close-up panning shot of of oarsman training on boat)) ((VIDEO: Wide shot of spectators on riverfront)) ((VIDEO: Medium shot of ASEAN sign on riverfront)) ((VIDEO: Wide shot of new bridge linking Koh Pich)) ((VIDEO: Medium shot of new bridge linking Koh Pich)) ((VIDEO: Close-up of pedestrians Koh Pich)) ((VIDEO: Medium shot of spectators on riverfront)) ((VIDEO: Close-up of of spectators on riverfront)) ((VIDEO: Close up of Anya Minko onscreen)) ((NARRATOR)) The three-day festival dates to the 12th century, when Angkor kings would deploy the royal navy at the start of the fishing season. It also marks the end of the monsoon, cooler weather and the start of harvesting, when couples get married and the tourist season gets underway. The Water festival was canceled for several years after a tragic bridge stampede left 347 people dead in 2010. In recent years the festival’s dragon boat races were also abandoned amid drought, the COVID-19 pandemic and regional leadership summits in Phnom Penh. Tourism has also been hurt by a political crackdown that marred July elections, and such issues as human trafficking and online scam compounds are blamed by business leaders for frightening off tourists, in particular Chinese tourists. However, a new bridge replacing the structure that claimed hundreds of lives has just opened and Anya Minko, a 29-year-old project manager who remembers that night 13 years ago, said this year’s festival will herald a new beginning. [[Radio: Anya Minko is a project manager who works in Cambodia’s education sector]] ((Anya Minko, project manager, (female in English))) “We all went through COVID and Cambodia held a few big events such as the ASEAN summit and last year the boat races – which are an important part of the Water Festival – were also canceled. So, after four long years, we finally have the boat races again, and yeah, good things are coming.” [[For radio: The United Nations says more than 100,000 people have been trafficked into Cambodia where they are forced to operate fraudulent online scams.]] ((VIDEO: Wide shot riverfront, King’s pagoda and grandstand)) ((VIDEO: Medium shot of grandstand construction)) ((VIDEO: Close-up shot of of grandstand construction)) ((VIDEO: Medium shot grandstand and pagoda)) ((VIDEO: Medium shot at floats and lights)) ((VIDEO: Close-up of lights being installed on floats)) ((VIDEO: Wide shot of police and security forces)) ((VIDEO: Medium shot of traffic police and security forces)) ((VIDEO: Wide shot of crowd on riverside)) ((VIDEO: Close up of Chum Chhorvy onscreen)) ((NARRATOR)) Festival organizers say 338 boats from across Cambodia have registered for the races, and will compete over a 1,700-meter course on the Tonle Sap Lake where it meets the Mekong River in front of the Royal Palace. Hundreds of thousands of spectators have converged on Phnom Penh for three days of festivities. Street gambling is popular and local bars and restaurants expect a boost in trade, but security is also tight, with police wary of petty criminals, pickpockets and bag-snatchers out to take advantage of the large crowds. Thirty-five year old Chum Chhorvy is an oarsman and team leader who has trained hard for this year’s races. ((Chum Chhorvy, team leader (male in Khmer))) “I'm delighted that people from 25 provinces, including the capital, will happily gather here in Phnom Penh to celebrate the festival together.” [[For radio: In previous years the Water Festival would attract more than 1 million people onto Phnom Penh’s waterfront. However, security and the bridge stampede had prompted authorities to encourage people to attend boat races in the provinces.]] ((VIDEO: Wide shot of boat house)) ((VIDEO: Medium shot of Jade Sary talking with boat operator)) ((VIDEO: Medium shot of Jade Sary walking)) ((VIDEO: Close up of Jade Sary onscreen)) ((NARRATOR)) Jade Sary, a 67-year-old veteran of racing, expects a record number of competing boats and says preparations across the capital are complete. (Jade Sary, village spokesman (male in Khmer))) “This year will be bigger and better than previous years. Especially the fireworks.” [[For radio: He also says police will also turn out in record numbers and impose strict conditions on street vendors who usually turn a handsome profit during the festival.]] ((VIDEO: Wide shot of crowds and dragon boats racing on the Tonle Sap)) ((VIDEO: Medium shot of dragon boats racing on the Tonle Sap)) ((VIDEO: Close-up shot of dragon boats racing on the Tonle Sap)) ((VIDEO: Medium shot of dragon boats racing on the Tonle Sap)) ((NARRATOR)) Cambodia is also desperate to attract foreign investors and this year’s Water Festival and the return of dragon boat racing will afford the government a chance to show this country in a better light than it has been. ((Luke Hunt, VOA News, Phnom Penh, Cambodia))
- NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
- Network VOA
- Location (dateline) Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Embargo Date November 26, 2023 13:56 EST
- Byline Luke Hunt, VOA News
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English