Kuwait has filed a lawsuit against the International
Olympic Committee (IOC) in Switzerland for more
than $1bn in damages over the suspension of the
Arab nation’s Olympic committee.
Olympic Committee (IOC) in Switzerland for more
than $1bn in damages over the suspension of the
Arab nation’s Olympic committee.
The dispute comes after the IOC and world football
governing body, FIFA, suspended Kuwait in October
on grounds of government interference in sports.
“It is totally unacceptable that Kuwait is treated in
this unfair way and barred from international sports
activities without any appropriate probe being
conducted,” said Information Minister Sheikh
Salman al-Homoud Al Sabah in comments
published on Thursday by the state-run Kuwait
News Agency.
“From the very beginning Kuwait did its utmost to
prevent the IOC suspension and showed a sincere
desire to cooperate, but all to no avail.
“We sent a UN-sponsored delegation to Geneva to
explain to the sports body that the Kuwaiti
government by no means intervenes in sports
activities.”
The minister said the government had filed a
lawsuit in a Swiss court against 14 board members
of the IOC and is seeking $1.3bn in damages.
The suspension could bar Kuwaiti athletes from
representing their country at this summer’s Olympic
Games in Rio de janeiro, Brazil
Earlier this month, the IOC’s executive board
authorised individual Kuwaiti athletes to compete
under the Olympic flag if they qualify.
