Kuwait has been chosen to host the Olympic Council of Asia General Assembly in 2023 ©Getty Images

A reconciliation between Kuwait and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) was confirmed here today when it was announced that Kuwait would host the 2023 edition of the governing body’s General Assembly.

A dispute between Kuwait and OCA blew-up in 2015 when the West Asian country was banned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for Government interference, with FIFA and numerous other International Federations swiftly following suit.

It forced Kuwait to compete under the Olympic flag at Rio 2016.

As relations between the Olympic Movement and Kuwait deteriorated, a longstanding contract for the OCA to maintain its headquarters there was officially terminated by the Government in November 2017.

A dispute between then-OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah and his cousin, Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, who had ambitions to be elected as President of the International Sport Shooting Federation, added to the tension.

The long-running dispute came to an end in July 2019 when the IOC lifted its ban and allowed Kuwait to compete under its own flag at this year’s re-arranged Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The future of the OCA in Kuwait now appears to have been settled after they won a series of court cases.

The OCA Finance Committee reported to the General Assembly that it "is in the process of following up with the related Governmental authorities to protect the benefit of the OCA and its interest".

The Olympic Council of Asia has awarded its 2023 General Assembly to Kuwait, ending a long-running dispute between the country and the Olympic Movement ©ITG
The Olympic Council of Asia has awarded its 2023 General Assembly to Kuwait, ending a long-running dispute between the country and the Olympic Movement ©ITG

Husain Al-Musallam, the secretary general of the OCA, who is himself from Kuwait, believes that today’s decision marks a new chapter in relations between Kuwait and the Olympic Movement.

"They want to show that everything is now behind us and welcome the Olympic Family to Kuwait to start a fresh beginning," he told insidethegames.

It remains to be seen whether Sheikh Ahmad will have been restored to his position as President of OCA by the time the General Assembly takes place in his home country, which has long-standing links with the OCA.

He was forced to temporarily step down in September after being found guilty of forgery by a court in Switzerland and was sentenced to 13 months in prison - a decision against which he is currently appealing.

Sheikh Ahmad had succeeded his father, Sheikh Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, as President of the OCA in 1991.

Sheikh Fahad, the first President of the OCA, had held the position since 1982 was killed fighting alongside the Kuwait Emiri Guard in defending Dasman Palace during the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq in 1990.

The 2022 OCA General Assembly is due to take place alongside the Asian Games scheduled to take place in Chinese city Hangzhou between September 10 and 25.