IOC to Suspend Kuwait’s NOC

Here’s another bone for the hounds to fight over in Parliament. Really, this is a disgrace.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AFP) — The International Olympic Committee is set to suspend Kuwait’s National Olympic Committee from August 1 because of political interference, IOC President Jacques Rogge announced on Tuesday.

The Belgian said that if the public authorities in Kuwait did not amend a national sports law presently in force in the country then they would have no option but to suspend them as it contravened the Olympic Charter.

“The Kuwait Olympic Committee will be suspended on August 1 2009 if, by July 31 the process of amending the local law is not duly finalised, as per the agreements signed and the written commitment of the Kuwaiti authorities,” read an IOC statement.

Pere Miro, director of the IOC’s department of NOC relations said he was hopeful the matter could be resolved.

“It is critical that this situation is resolved as soon as possible for the sake of sport and in particular the Kuwaiti athletes,” he said.

“I am hopeful that satisfactory measures will be put into place before the July 31 deadline in order to avoid the implementation of such a sanction.”

Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved.

~ by Я on June 16, 2009.