The inaugural event, organised by the OCA in conjunction with the National Sport Arbitration Tribunal, saw over 40 sports arbitrators attend from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Iran, Lebanon, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Egypt and Morocco.

Representatives also attended from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), football's world governing body FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport, with the IOC's Head of Institutional Relations and Governance, Jerome Poivey, speaking on "Independence and the Olympic Movement".

"It's [the] first time in our region to organise such a large-scale conference on independence and autonomy of sports," said OCA director general and technical director Husain Al Musallam when opening the one-day event.

"I have noticed that we are keen on sports independence and autonomy education.

"Sport has its unique character and sports arbitration is the best channel to settle disputes when they happen."

Attendees listen to the speakers during the conference in Kuwait City ©OCA



National Olympic Committee autonomy and independence from national Governments has been a major issue across the world in recent times, with Kuwait, Egypt, Pakistan and India among participating nations to have experienced problems.

Kuwait was suspended from the IOC in January 2010 because of alleged political interference by the Government, and athletes competed at the first Summer Youth Olympic Games that year independently under the Olympic Flag before the situation was resolved ahead of London 2012.

India, meanwhile, were suspended in 2013 for similar Government interference, as well as corruption allegations within the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

The Indian team initially competed at the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi as independent athletes before a special Ceremony was held in the Athletes' Village midway through the Games to mark their return following the election of World Squash Federation (WSF) President N Ramachandran as IOA head in an IOC-approved election.

Since then, great effort has been made by the OCA, the Association of National Olympic Committees, the IOC, and others, to bring about greater improvements across the world, although problems still remain in some places. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
January 2015: Olympic Council of Asia must continue to evolve, warns Sheikh Ahmad in New Year's message
November 2014: Egyptian Olympic Committee calls for ANOC assistance to retain independence
July 2014: Exclusive: NOCs must balance autonomy with good governance, claims leading IOC official
July 2014: Pakistan avoid Olympic suspension but warned by IOC situation is being monitored
March 2014: Autonomy of NOC's vital for future of Olympic Movement, claims Bach