A new TikTok trend that sees tourists running around Angkor Wat in a bid to recreate a popular video game has sparked concern among conservationists.
Holidaymakers have recorded themselves sprinting through the temple in Cambodia, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, claiming it’s ‘Temple Run in real life’.
ABOUT TEMPLE RUN
Temple Run, established by Imagini Studios, follows an explorer with an ancient relic as they run from creatures chasing them. The game proved popular when released, with Temple Run 2 gaining 50 million downloads in its first two weeks in January 2013.
THE TEMPLE RUN CHALLENGE
Tourists have recorded themselves sprinting through the Hindu-Buddhist temple – built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century – and have racked up millions of views doing so.
It’s raised alarm bells with conservationist Simon Warrack, who told South China Morning Post that onlookers may perceive the trend as culturally insensitive and could damage the temple.
SOME DON’T LIKE IT
The conservationist, who has worked to preserve the site for 30 years, added that the trend may also be perceived as insensitive to Eastern religions, saying: ‘You wouldn’t run through St Peters in Rome or any Western church, so why is it OK to do it in Cambodia?’
He added that the trend not only poses physical damage to the historical site but may also damage the spiritual and cultural value of the temple.
Meanwhile, Hans Leisen, who led a German conservation project at Angkor Wat, claimed the trend is ‘nonsense’.
He said: ‘If you’re running through the temple, you will not see the beauty of the carvings. And if you fall or stumble, you’ll touch a wall to stabilise yourself and endanger the fragile carvings.’
REGARDLESS …
Despite backlash, TikTok users have gained millions of views on clips which have seen them partaking in the trend.Content creator Chiara Contino’s clip in which she sprinted through the temple was viewed more than 2 million times.
Meanwhile, influencer Jena, who took part in the trend in 2019, has continued to get comments of support on her video five years later in 2024, with one saying: ‘2024, here to see the temple run’.
