Kuwait's National Assembly (Parliament) is scheduled to establish a special panel at a session on December 27th; to be charged with drafting amendments to the national sports laws and regulations, in a fresh quest by the Gulf State to lift the ban on its participation in international tournaments.
The legislators, during a crucial session on Wednesday, voted in favor of setting up the special committee in debates on prospects of modifying the national sports laws. Following yesterday's session, Parliament Speaker Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanim stated that international authorities should take into consideration vows by the State of Kuwait Government for sports reforms that could help lift the international suspension imposed on the country.
Elaborating after the special session dedicated to the sports crisis, Al-Ghanim noted that the ban on Kuwait should be temporarily lifted after the country's embassies have provided international authorities with a book detailing a government decisions to initiate reforms in the sports sector, which comply with the International Olympic Committee's (OIC) policies.
Moreover, he said that the session yielded an overwhelming consensus to form the parliamentary committee tasked with investigating this sports crisis during a two-month period in which a solution to remedy this issue must be found. He also added that he was hopeful that collective efforts on the part of the government will be instrumental in ultimately solving this dilemma.
Meanwhile, in response to a question of whether the sports ban will remain in place well after the two-month period, Al-Ghanim affirmed that the government will spare no effort to ensure that the ban is lifted.
The IOC has suspended the Kuwait Olympic Commiteee (IOC) and prevented the country from taking part in international tournaments; claiming that the national sports laws do not comply with the international regulations. It has also accused the Kuwaiti government of "undue interference" in the sector. The ban states that the Kuwaiti committee "is not entitled to participate in any activity connected with the Olympic Movement or exercise any right conferred upon it by the Olympic Charter or the IOC."
Speaking during yesterday's session, the Information Minister stated that Kuwait is exerting great efforts to lift the international ban. Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, also the Minister of State for Youth Affairs, said Kuwait is set to develop the Olympic and non-Olympic sport sectors and achieve all terms required to lift the ban.
The Kuwaiti Government has honored all obligations toward international sports organizations, with the youth interests being placed atop other priorities, he affirmed.
Re-shedding light on marathon Government efforts to resolve the issue, Sheikh Salman noted that it had given a year-long grace period for the offending sports authorities, through Decree 134/2013.
"During this period of time we had contacted the Kuwaiti Olympic Committee several times and I had personally met with them, offering solutions and amendments, however these proposals had fallen on deaf ears; with no consideration whatsoever to the young athletes, the national teams or Kuwait's reputation." On government measures to safeguard public funds in the sports federations, the minister said it had taken the necessary measures to protect them.
"We have also referred the Olympic committee, the Kuwaiti Football Association and a club to the public prosecution," he said, re-explaining that the legal step had been taken in response to financial irregularities and banning the State from practicing its responsibility of supervising the public funds.
Vice Board Chairman of Public Authority for Kuwait Sports, Suleiman Al-Adsani stressed the authority is in the process of submitting a new, sophisticated and comprehensive sports bill and cooperate with the legislative authority to enact the law within six months.
Adsani said the draft bill keeps abreast with developments in international sports legislation and Olympic Charter in compliance with the Constitution and the sovereignty of the State of Kuwait and its laws.
He explained that the authority will oblige the international organizations to act first to lift the suspension temporarily to enable Kuwaiti sports to participate in tournaments. He noted the authority's board has decided to invite the International Football Federation and the International Olympic Committee to visit Kuwait to discuss the sports situation with the government and the Parliament to reach a consensus formula acceptable to all parties. He noted that the National Assembly during last Sunday's opening session recommended that the government work to lift the suspension of sports.
He added the Cabinet during its Dec 15 meeting issued a decision to accept the proposal of the Board of the sports authority in response to the Parliament's recommendation in this regard in the interest of the country and Kuwaiti sports.
