LAUSANNE: The executive board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Friday fully lifted the suspension of the Kuwait Olympic Committee (KOC) as a result of the successful implementation of a roadmap agreed between all parties. The decision was made by postal vote.
The first step of the roadmap (revision and adoption of new statutes for the sports clubs, followed by elections) was successfully completed within the prescribed deadline (end of January).
The second step (revision and adoption of new statutes for the national sports federations, followed by elections) was implemented in close coordination with the international federations (IFs) concerned, and was successfully completed in early June.
The third and last step (revision and adoption of the KOC statutes, followed by KOC elections) was successfully completed on 30 June, with the holding of the KOC elective general assembly.
Kuwaiti minister of information and minister of state for youth affairs Mohammad Al-Jabri said the move to lift the ban came after years during which “damage was inflicted in all factors of Kuwaiti sports”.
The KOC was suspended by decision of the IOC EB on 27 October 2015, to protect the Olympic Movement in Kuwait from undue government interference, after a sports law that was not compatible with the basic principles that govern the Olympic Movement was passed in the country.
On 16 August 2018, the IOC EB decided to provisionally lift the suspension of the KOC, acknowledging the progress made, which included the revision of the sports law and an agreement to establish a process for elections of all sports organisations in Kuwait.
Following this decision, which enabled the athletes to compete in the Asian Games in Jakarta/Palembang and the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 under their country’s flag, a roadmap was established under the supervision of a Supervisory Committee, appointed by the IOC President, Thomas Bach.
Friday’s decision follows the recommendation of the Supervisory Committee to fully lift the suspension of the KOC with immediate effect.
