Kuwait MPs seek end to sports ban within 2 months

Kuwaiti MPs yesterday voted to resolve the country’s suspension from international sports within two months by issuing new regulation.

Kuwait Times reports that the six-hour session ended with MPs voting by a large margin to recommend the formation of a sports and youth committee to begin work on a new sports law that meets the requirements of the parliament, the government and international sports bodies.

They also called for the government to contact sports bodies to inform them of the plan and request a temporary lifting of the ban to allow Kuwaiti teams and athletes to participate in international events.

All cabinet ministers present approved the recommendation during the National Assembly session, which was requested by opposition MPS earlier this week, according to the publication.

Read: Kuwait MPs call for emergency session to end international sports ban

The country been suspended from international competitions by football governing body FIFA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since October 2015 after introducing new laws granting greater state control of national sports associations.

During the debate, MPs criticised out at what they described as the political struggle between leading figures in the country for personal objectives.

Others accused the government of a lack of interest in lifting the ban and interfering in local sports.

Minister of information and state and youth Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud Al-Sabah denied these claims and argued the suspension had no legal basis.

He also dismissed claims that laws issued in recent years, including a summer decision to dissolve the country’s sports bodies, constituted government interference.

Read: Olympic Committee condemns Kuwait after sports bodies dissolved

Salman insisted the dissolving of the sports bodies was due to administrative and financial violations but a number of MPs called for him to step down for his handling of the situation.

Kuwait’s ban from international sport meant veteran Kuwaiti shooter Fehaid Aldeehani did not compete under the country’s flag when he won a gold medal for the men’s double trap at this summer’s Rio Olympic Games.

Read: Olympic gold winner Aldeehani says joy dampened by ban on Kuwait