The official, Cambodia's longest serving leader, received the honour from Singapore's IOC Executive Board member Ng Ser Miang in a special ceremony at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh.

However, this decision is controversial due to frequent criticisms of human rights abuses in the Asian nation and also the fact Hun was part of the infamous Khmer Rouge regime led by Pol Pot.

He claimed the award was a "new pride for him, his family, and the whole nation".

“I thank the IOC wholeheartedly for this award and promise to continue the good work in promoting sports in our country," he told the Khmer Times.

“But this award is not only for me, but for the country as a whole.

"Especially our athletes across the country who are actively involved in sport and helping the Olympic Movement to grow both nationally and internationally.”

Cambodia won their first gold medal in Asian Games history when under 73 kilograms taekwondo player Sorn Seavmey triumphed at Incheon 2014.

The country is also due to host their first Southeast Asian Games in 2023.

“Our progress [came] from almost nothing after the Pol Pot regime, which saw sport decimated and many of our finest athletes lost," Hun added.

"I am pleased to see that after peace was restored we were able to foster a renaissance."

The IOC President's Trophy is billed as the highest sports award given to those who have "excelled in sport and had an extraordinary career and created a lasting impact".

Hun, who has served as Prime Minister since 1985, began his political life as a member of the Khmer Rouge that was responsible for the Cambodian Genocide of the late 1970s.

But he fled to Vietnam during internal purges in 1977 before becoming a leader of the Vietnamese-sponsored rebel army which gained power in 1979.

According to Human Rights Watch, his regime has since been linked to a "wide range of serious human rights violations: extrajudicial killings, torture, arbitrary arrests, summary trials, censorship, bans on assembly and association, and a national network of spies and informers intended to frighten and intimidate the public into submission".

insidethegames has contacted the IOC for a comment about their recognition of such an individual.

Cambodia had also been due to host the 2016 Olympic Council of Asia General Assembly before the event was moved to Danang in Vietnam to be held alongside the Asian Beach Games.

Cambodia is also one of four countries thought to be vying for contention to host the next edition of the continental beach event expected to be held in 2019.