Lebanon declares support for Kuwait in face of Int'l sports ban

KUWAIT, Feb 7 (KUNA) -- Lebanon stands alongside the State of Kuwait in face of the international ban on the national sports and will urge the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to rescind the suspension, announced a visiting Lebanese official on Sunday.
"Lebanon's stand will be on Kuwait's side and will seek to urge the International Olympic Committee to lift the suspension imposed on it," stated Simon Abi Ramia, Chairman of the Lebanese Parliamentary Youth and Sports Committee and member of the Lebanese Parliament, during a meeting on Sunday with Minister of Information, Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, who lauded Lebanon's "role toward Kuwaiti causes in general and sports issues in particular." Abi Ramia affirmed Lebanon is committed to support Kuwait in its quest to restore its status on the international sports arena, indicating that he notified Sheikh Salman about the Lebanese supportive stance during the meeting.
The State of Kuwait is among the pioneering countries on the Arab and international sports arenas, with a "rich history of accomplishments," Abi Ramia stated, hoping that efforts at various levels "be crowned with success of lifting the international ban on Kuwait." Elaborating, the chairman of the parliamentary commission added that during the meeting with Minister Sheikh Salman, the two sides underscored the close and depth ties between the two countries in various sectors, affirming that the discussions dealt with "the sports situation and the international suspension of the Kuwaiti sports." For his part, Minister Sheikh Salman, during the meeting, attended by other officials from the two sides, underlined the two sides' keenness on supporting issues of bilateral interest, particularly with respect of sport and youth cooperation.
The IOC, as well as FIFA, has imposed suspension on the Kuwaiti sports thus barring Kuwaiti teams from playing in major tournaments. Kuwaiti officials have affirmed that local sports laws and regulations are in harmony with international ones. (end) bs.rk