KUWAIT CITY, Dec 26: The Kuwait Olympic Committee has strongly criticized the decision of Muhammad Al-Aiban, the Minister of Commerce and Industry and the Minister of State for Youth Affairs, to adopt the recommendation of the Ministerial Investigation Committee and the Board of Directors of the Public Sports Authority. The decision led to the cancellation of the declaration of several sports bodies affiliated with the General Assembly of the Kuwait Olympic Committee, citing a violation of Law No. 87 of 2017.

In a statement released yesterday, the Kuwaiti Olympic Committee expressed deep regret and sadness over the consequences of the ministerial decision. It deemed the decision a clear abuse against sports bodies and an injustice to a significant number of male and female players. The committee raised concerns that such actions might result in a paralysis of the Olympic and sports movement, depriving young athletes of their fundamental rights to engage in sports and represent Kuwait.

The statement outlined the following key points:

The decision by the Minister of Commerce and Industry and the Minister of State for Youth Affairs was considered vague and based on the recommendation of a committee, most of whose members were deemed non-neutral. The committee, formed by the Minister and including individuals from the General Sports Authority, was accused of attempting to control the Olympic sports movement through illegal and non-sporting interference. The Kuwait Olympic Committee highlighted that issuing such a decision violated the principles of the Olympic Charter and norms governing the matter, as it involved canceling the declaration of numerous sports bodies without seeking the opinion of the Kuwait Olympic Committee, some of which are members of its General Assembly.

The Kuwait Olympic Committee emphasized its commitment to its responsibilities, adherence to the Olympic Charter, international federations' regulations, and the law. It asserted that it would continue to recognize the members of its General Assembly from existing sports federations, specialized clubs, and their respective boards of directors.

The committee criticized ongoing actions and interventions by the Minister and the Director General of the General Sports Authority, considering them contrary to sports teamwork and the principle of cooperation necessary between the Kuwaiti Olympic Sports Movement and government agencies. The Kuwait Olympic Committee urged the Minister and the General Sports Authority to cooperate based on Olympic sporting principles, promoting the benefit of Kuwaiti sports and athletes, and avoiding actions that create sporting instability, especially in the lead-up to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.