Kuwait welcomed back to Asian Games with OCA warning

AFP  |  Jakarta 

was warned by the Council of Asia (OCA) today to stop its "world record" of government interference in sport or face being exiled for a third time.

The Committee (IOC) this week provisionally lifted its ban on Kuwait, allowing the Gulf state's athletes to march under their own flag at Saturday's opening ceremony in

But the IOC said that despite its "gesture of goodwill" the reasons for its original suspension remained valid.

"This is a world record for government interference in the movement, no country is like this," told AFP after an board meeting discussed the matter in today.

"We are very happy for the National Olympic Committee and for the athletes," he said.

"We hope this will not happen in the future and the government will respect the road map they have agreed with the IOC to lead to fresh, clean, transparent and based on each sport's statutes approved by their respective international bodies."

World sports bodies led by the IOC and suspended Kuwait in October 2015 for a second time since 2010 for political interference in sport.

The IOC said that in reinstating Kuwait provisionally that it "acknowledged the progress" and the "positive discussions with the Government of Kuwait".

Al Musallam said Kuwait did not have much time to prove it was trying to meet IOC requirements.

"We are going to review the situation with the IOC on October 3 and 4 to see if any of the agreement has been implemented on the ground, or if there is nothing," said Al Musallam.

"We really hope this thing will be finished.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Sat, August 18 2018. 16:20 IST