KUWAIT CITY, Jan 13, (KUNA): Kuwaiti local sport clubs adopted several measures to confront the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) suspension of Kuwaiti Olympic Committee.
After a meeting by representatives and presidents of local clubs in Al-Arabi Sports Club last night, a decision was made to form a committee representing the clubs to tackle such issue and take legal and reform measures needed on the issue, including calling for an extraordinary general assembly and clubs confederations to assemble as soon as possible to find a mechanism to protect the country’s sports activities and its laws, Al-Arabi Sports Club said in a press release on Wednesday.
The clubs reiterated their adherence to Kuwait’s regulations and laws issued by the legislative branch in this regard, expressing its dismay at the level of interference committed by IOC and its confederations.
The clubs noted in their statement that they will send various cables supporting the country’s regulations and laws, asserting on its legitimacy and sovereignty concerning sports laws in this regard.
The Olympic charter stipulates that the IOC has no right to take sanction sagainst any national Olympic committee, temporary or permanently suspend, or even the withdrawal of recognition before notifying the National Olympic Committee, including reviewing responses, refute and justification sent by the IOC, the statement added.

The statement also noted that the committee formed which includes Al-Qadsiya Sports Club, Al-Naser Sports Club, Kazma Sports Club, and Sulaibikhat Sports Club, in addition to Al-Arabi Sports Club will hold their first committee meeting tomorrow in Al-Arabi Sports Club.
The clubs also called on all Kuwaiti sports figures who are taking international posts to participate and confront this vicious campaign against Kuwait’s sports.
Meanwhile, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor D. Mohammad Al-Afasi said Wednesday he was astonished when he received a letter from Pere Miro, Director of the International Olympic Committee’s NOC Relations Department, about suspension of Kuwait National Olympic Committee.
“I have made correspondence with IOC Chairman and with all respect to Mr Miro but he should not address a Minister in the government of the State of Kuwait,” Al-Afasi told reporters after a meeting with the parliamentary Youth and Sports Committee.

The IOC Chairman should have  read the letter Al-Afasi sent before enforcing the suspension decision, he said. “The letter arrived (at the IOC) on Dec 31 which coincided with an official holiday but we expected him (IOC Chairman) to read the letter the next day before adopting the suspension decision.” Al-Afasi said Miro’s letter was unacceptable “and it is humiliating which we don’t accept ... I don’t agree with its contents and it will be answered back.”  As to the dissolution of board members of 10 sporting clubs in Kuwait, Al-Afasi said the suspension decision did not address this issue. He, however, said FIFA approved the dissolution decision of the clubs and extension of the interim committee running the affairs of Kuwait Football Association (KFA).
Al-Afasi called for respecting judicial decisions as stipulated by IOC Charter.
The minister said the next move would be approving the amendments of sports laws during the second reading by the parliament. But if the IOC insisted on keeping the suspension even after the approval of amendments, then “we will act through Kuwait NOC and in line with rules of the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS).”

Kuwait will host the 63rd meeting of the executive office of heads of national olympic councils of the GCC states tomorrow, Abdullah bin Oqlah Al-Hashim, the Assistant Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), said on Wednesday.
Al-Hashim said in a press release that hosting such meeting in Kuwait was out of the country’s keenness on Gulf sports and Kuwait Olympic committee’s vital role in supporting joint Gulf work.
The official praised efforts exerted by the Kuwaiti Olympic committee to ensure success of such meeting.
The meeting will discuss preparation for a meeting of heads of of olympic committees’ council due in Kuwait next March, Al-Hashim said.
Al-Hashim noted that the meeting will also review a report prepared by the Secretariat General regarding decision made in the 62nd meeting of the executive office of Olympic heads of committees’ council.
The meeting will discuss as well the holding of the first beach games in the Gulf which will be hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain next October, the official added.