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The Angkor Wat  Half Marathon, inaugurated in 1996 by Japanese Olympian Yuko Arimori, began with 654 participants. Arimori, a medalist in the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Olympic marathons, founded this event which is now organized by Cambodia’s National Olympic Committee. Recognized by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) and World Athletics (IAAF), the half-marathon raises funds for Cambodian landmine victims and attracts various sponsors.

The event’s popularity surged over the years, peaking in December 2019 with over 12,000 registrants, 60% of whom were international participants. That year, slightly more than 3,000 runners chose the half-marathon, while others competed in 10 km, 5 km, and 3 km races.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted this annual tradition in 2020, resulting in the first-ever virtual event. In 2021, strict health measures limited participation to 2,500 runners. The 2023 edition showed significant recovery with 10,154 participants, nearly reaching pre-pandemic levels. However, international participation decreased markedly, with foreign runners comprising only 35% (3,654) of the total – almost half the proportion seen in 2019. This decline aligns with the reduced Angkor Wat ticket sales observed since 2019.