PHNOM PENH, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia will host the first Angkor Empire Marathon on Aug. 17 at the complex of the Angkor Wat temple, a World Heritage Site, a sports official said Friday.

Vath Chamroeun, secretary general of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia, said so far more than 2,000 professional and amateur athletes, including about 1,000 foreigners from 38 countries, have registered in various categories for the event.

"It will be the first-ever marathon event in Cambodia," which aims to attract more tourists to Angkor Wat temple during a rainy season, he told a press conference.

The competition will take place in front of the centerpiece of Angkor Wat temple, where athletes will run around the temple in different distances of more than 42 km for marathon, 21 km for half marathon and 10 km and 3 km for fun run.

The 12th century Angkor Wat temple, the kingdom's largest tourist destination, received 2.23 million foreign visitors last year, up 8 percent year-on-year.