KUWAIT, Jan 1, (KUNA): The Public Authority of Youth and Sport (PAYS) received a letter from the International Olympic Committee, in which it informs PAYS of suspending activities of the Kuwaiti Olympic Committee, PAYS Chairman Faisal Al-Jazzaf said Friday.
The letter clarified that the suspension is “temporary” and would be lifted as soon as Kuwaiti sport laws are amended and dovetailed with the Olympic Charter, Al-Jazzaf told KUNA.
The State of Kuwait has signed a number of agreements with the International Olympic Committee, or IOC, in order to solve the problem, as the session held by the Kuwaiti parliament last Wednesday came in implementation of such agreements, he noted.
According to Al-Jazzaf, a letter was sent by Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Dr. Mohammad Al-Afasi to IOC Chairman Jacque Rogge last night, enclosed with the parliament’s amendments, but could not say if Rogge has read the letter or not.
Al-Jazzaf said PAYS has called for a meeting next Monday to discuss the situation.
The National Assembly on Wednesday approved a draft law on dovetailing Kuwaiti sport laws with the Olympic Charter and basic law of international sport federations.
The draft law was approved after the first hearing of a session specially held to discuss the country’s overall sport status.
Forty out of 52 MPs approved the draft law, while 12 MPs refused to endorse it.
Adjourning vote for a second hearing was also approved, pending agreement to hold yet another special session to discuss the issue, National Assembly Speaker Jassem Al-Kharafi said.
Al-Kharafi hoped for the next session to be held as soon as possible, “so that we can wrap up the issue once and for all.”
Meanwhile, Vice-Chairman of the caretaker committee of Kuwait Football Association (KFA) Asad Taqi said Friday the association has not received so far any letter on the suspension of its activities from the International Federation of Football Association (FIFA).

“The FIFA is unlikely to order the suspension of the KFA activities at present,” he said in a statement to KUNA here.
Taqi noted that the ultimatum issued by the federation for the KFA to settle its problems expires on Jan 31.
“KFA has to specify dates for the election of a new board of directors and the meeting of its general assembly,” he pointed out.
“Even if the FIFA decided on the suspension, the KFA will follow the legal channels to lift the suspension, restore Kuwait’s rights and resume its activities,” he pledged.
Kuwait’s national team is scheduled to play against their Australian peers next Wednesday as part of the fifth round of Asia Cup 2011 qualifiers — group B.
With seven points each, the two teams are tied for the first place of the group while Oman’s team come in second place with four points followed by Indonesia in the last place.