Lagos – The Kuwait Olympic Committee (KOC) were suspended by the IOC in October for `undue Government interference’ only three years after the lifting of a similar suspension shortly before London 2012.
This is contained in an online
publication, Insidethegames’. Sheikh Salman claims, however, that the ban was
unfairly put in place and that an `appropriate probe had not been conducted’.
The development marks the latest in the ongoing saga which has seen Kuwait
athletes banned from competing at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games under their own
flag. They are seeking to reclaim damages from the IOC following their `outlaw’
from the international sports scene as their football federation is also
suspended by FIFA and 15 other International Federations (IF).
“It’s totally
unacceptable that Kuwait is treated in this unfair way and barred from international
sports activities without any appropriate probe being conducted,’’ the
Information Minister told the Kuna, the official news agency of the Kuwaiti
Government.
“From the very beginning Kuwait did it its utmost to prevent the
IOC suspension and showed a sincere desire to co-operate, but all to no avail.
“We sent a UN-sponsored delegation to Geneva to explain to the sports body that
the Kuwaiti government by no means intervenes in sports activities. “However,
we were put in an embarrassing situation in the eyes of the international
sports circles and looked as if we were outlaws.’’
Kuwaiti athletes’ hopes of
representing their nation at Rio 2016 all-but ended last week when the rights
of all sporting officials and athletes to take independent opinions and actions
were curtailed following the passing of controversial new Statutes by the
National Assembly.
Kuwaiti politicians approved a controversial set of new
Statutes which effectively ended the chances of the KOC suspension being lifted
before Rio 2016 Under the new measures, the Public Sports Authority (PSA) gain
the power to dissolve all sporting bodies including the KOC, as well as
assuming control over all appointments and financial matters. Those who refuse
to comply could face jail terms of between one and three years.
The new
Statutes, which have been described as threatening to human rights, were
proposed by PSA head Sheikh Salman and were approved by 40 of the 46 members of
the National Assembly.
It effectively dismissed any chance of Kuwait’s
suspension from the IOC being lifted before Rio 2016, with the Opening Ceremony
scheduled for Aug. 5. Sheikh Salman came under fierce criticism from opponents
of the Statute amendments, with some claiming the nature of the proposals was
`unconstitutional’.
“There is only positive interference in the form of support
and backing for the sports bodies meant to promote the Olympic movement,’’
added Sheikh Salman. “Looking ahead, we stress the need for a common stance and
cooperation involving all concerned parties without excluding anybody.
“All of
us have to put the higher interests of Kuwait above all other considerations,
spare no effort to promote sports and bring back the youth to the international
sports events.’’
The news will also prolong Kuwait’s period in the sporting
wilderness as the Government still have the power to dissolve the country’s
sports federations, including the KOC.
This is all seemingly connected to a
personal feud between Sheikh Salman and his cousin Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad
Al-Sabah, the Kuwaiti IOC member who is also President of both the OCA and the
Lausanne-based Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC).
“This case is
now in the hands of the court and we look forward to the outcome with
confidence,’’ an IOC spokesperson told insidethegames.
Source:Vanguardngr
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