MPs form panel for sports law amendments

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KUWAIT CITY, Dec 21: The National Assembly during its special session Wednesday discussed amendments to the Kuwait sports law.

In view of this, the Parliament has agreed to form a parliamentary committee for youth and sports on Dec 27 which will be tasked with submitting a report to the Parliament within two months of Kuwait sports after listening to all parties concerned and studying all laws prior to preparing an integrated law.

During the discussions, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Minister of Information Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah stressed that Kuwait is exerting all out efforts to lift the international ban on sports activities. He added, “Kuwait is set to develop the Olympic and non-Olympic sport sectors and meet all conditions required to lift the ban.” He stated sports is vital to the development of skills and personality of youth and help them stay away from drug addiction and violence.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has suspended the Kuwait Olympic Committee and prevented Kuwait from international sports. The IOC said the suspension was “in order to protect the Olympic movement in Kuwait from undue government interference.”

The ban states 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.” Sheikh Salman meanwhile, confirmed that the government is committed to implementing bylaws of international sports organizations taking into account the interests of Kuwaiti youth. On the recommendation approved by the National Assembly in its inaugural session which advised the government to work to achieve necessary requirements to lift the sports ban, Salman explained the government responded positively and decided to issue legislation in cooperation with the National Assembly within six months for a comprehensive solution acceptable to all parties.

He assured the government will work tirelessly to enable the Parliament to issue a better legislation to lift the suspension. He added, the issue has been referred to the Olympic Committee and one of the clubs to the Public Prosecution.

The government would never relent from protecting the public money He added, the government has referred Kuwaiti Olympic Committee, Kuwait Football Association and one of the clubs to the Public Prosecution in this regard.

In response to a question regarding the actions taken by the government to protect public funds from sports federations, Salman said the government has taken action to protect public money for the sake of reform and law enforcement.

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.

 

By Abubakar A. Ibrahim Arab Times Staff

This news has been read 8337 times!

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