By Nawaf Al-Deghbasi
DOHA, Jan 21 (KUNA) -- Kuwait's Commerce and Industry Minister and State Youth Minister Khaled Al-Roudhan hailed the close cooperation with Gulf countries in the sports field, particularly after a global ban on competitive football, he described as "unjust," was recently lifted.
Bilateral relations with each of the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries have provided a boost to his country's post-ban plans, he said on the fringes of a visit to Doha to inaugurate an international youth football tournament.
Cooperation in hosting different sports events will also provide an added boost to Kuwaiti sports capabilities, he added.
The minister said that exchanged visits between the officials of both countries would not cease as he thanked Qatar and other Gulf countries who contributed to lifting the ban and noted to "huge efforts" that were exerted towards the breakthrough.
Kuwait has improved its sports laws and is currently in need of the appropriate groundwork and administrative capabilities in order for its athletes to develop in tandem, he said.
During his visit, Minister Al-Roudhan met with two of Kuwait's junior national football teams, attending a training camp in Doha in preparation for the upcoming AFC Asian Championships. The Kuwait FA has allocated funds for the young generation in particular, he said.
Another visit to the sports Aspire Academy was to benefit from Qatar's vast expertise in sports development, he revealed, and discussed a previous agreement signed earlier with the facility.
The minister also attended the launch of the Seventh Al-Kass International Cup at the mega Qatari sports venue, where he cut the ribbon on the inauguration of the youth football tournament's match opener between Real Madrid of Spain and Fenerbahce of Turkey. (pickup previous) nnd.sd