IOC Slams Kuwait for Blocking Athletes' Competing

(ATR) The IOC Athletes Commission chair has condemned Kuwaiti authorities for trying to stop elite athletes from trying to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympics.

In an unusual move by the IOC, a statement was issued on behalf of Claudia Bokel criticizing Kuwait for violating the rights of athletes to compete. Kuwait’s NOC was suspended by the IOC last month over the government meddling in its affairs.

"The IOC Athletes’ Commission has learnt with dismay about attempts by the Kuwaiti authorities to prevent athletes from taking part in national and international sporting events, including qualifiers for the Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro 2016," she said.

"We condemn in the strongest terms any attempt by the Kuwait authorities to prevent the athletes from achieving their full potential, which of course includes qualifying for the Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro 2016."

The strong IOC statement appears to be a response to remarks made by Kuwait’s minister of information and youth affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, who said earlier this week that his country’s athletes would only participate in sports events when its flag was raised.

"Could we, Kuwaitis, accept participation in tournaments and championships that don’t respect our flag and State?," he was quoted by the Kuwait national news agency.

In her statement, Bokel referred to Agenda 2020 reforms, underlining that "the athletes are at the heart of the Olympic Movement and protecting them is of utmost importance."

She said it was "never the IOC’s intention to penalize the athletes in Kuwait" when it banned the NOC. "The decision was rather a response aimed at safeguarding the Olympic Movement in Kuwait and protecting the athletes from undue government interference," she said.

Bokel said athletes of a country suspended by the IOC should be allowed to train and compete as normal to qualify for the Olympics and, if necessary, to compete compete under the Olympic flag.

The IOC criticism of Kuwait will be a further embarrassment for ANOC president and Asian Olympic powerbroker Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah.

Kuwait was suspended on Oct. 27 after the government failed to amend its disputed sports legislation.

Pat Hickey, head of the IOC’s autonomy committee, met Kuwaiti officials in Lausanne a few weeks ago to try and resolve the issues.

He described the IOC’s frustration and disappointment with Kuwait’s attitude at the time to ATR. "We are out to protect the athletes. We can’t have political interference," he said.

Hickey had hoped a deal could be hammered out by the end of the year, which would see Kuwait withdraw its controversial sports legislation and focus on preparations for the Rio Games. But that goal looks as far away as ever.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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