Phnom Penh (FN), Oct. 7 – A gold reward for Cambodia! The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) is proud to have won the first place at the Archival Games 2024, a global competition for archivists and records managers. The Sports Archives Section of the International Council on Archives (ICA/SPO) organized this year's event, held virtually alongside the Paris 2024 Olympics, according to the press release seen by Fresh News on Monday (Oct 7).
Participants from around the world showcased their archival expertise through short, creative videos shared on social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter.
The official announcement was made on 30 September at the IV International Seminar on Sports Archives in Girona, Spain. The Archival Games offered different categories of challenge – Speed & Volume, Endurance, Teamwork and Freestyle – each designed to showcase the skills and creativity inherent in the archival profession. The ECCC took home the gold in the categories of Speed & Volume, Endurance and Teamwork.
"Winning the first virtual Archival Games is a testament to our commitment to innovation and collaboration. This achievement reflects the hard work and creativity of our entire team at the ECCC. Together, we’re not just preserving history—we're redefining how it can be engaged with in the digital age," said Tony Kranh, Acting Director of the ECCC Office of Administration.
Other gold winners included the Expatriate Archive Centre from the Netherlands, excelling in the Freestyle category. The silver medals went to the Archivo de la Diputación Provincial de Alicante in Spain and the Central State Archive-Museum of Literature and Art of Ukraine for their respective achievements. Bronze honors were awarded to the Sri Lanka National Archives, the Arxiu Museu Marítim de Barcelona in Spain, and the Subdirección General de los Archivos Estatales, also in Spain.
Each winner will receive an official ICA/SPO certificate, acknowledging their achievements in these challenging and inspiring categories. The competition served not only as a platform to showcase archival expertise, but also as an opportunity to raise awareness of the vital role of archivists, particularly in a country like Cambodia where the profession remains largely unknown.
The ECCC's extensive archive includes key documents from the Khmer Rouge trials, meticulously preserved to international standards. With more than 233,000 documents, nearly 2.4 million pages including judicial decisions and orders, over 11,000 hours of audio/video recordings and 670 transcripts of hearings, the ECCC's work embodies a commitment to transparency and public access to historical archives. These archives are accessible in hard copies at the ECCC Resource Centre in Phnom Penh and in digital format, reinforcing the importance of preserving Cambodia's history for future generations.
The ECCC's membership of the International Council on Archives (ICA) further strengthens its ability to benefit from global expertise and share best practice in archives management. This collaboration strengthens the ECCC's role in promoting good governance, accountability and effective archival practices in Cambodia. With this victory, the ECCC continues its mission to protect and promote Cambodia’s cultural heritage, reminding the world of the importance of archives in safeguarding history and justice.
=FRESH NEWS
