Country/Region Kuwait Created 1957 Continental
Association OCA | Code KUW Recognized 1966 Headquarters Safat | |
Kuwait Olympic Committee (IOC code: KUW) is the National Olympic Committee representing Kuwait and organising the Kuwait Olympic team.
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2010–12 suspension
The International Olympic Committee imposed a suspension on the committee with effect from 1 January 2010 due to government legislation that permits the state to interfere in elections of sporting organisations. The government had failed to meet the IOC's 31 December 2009 deadline for amending the legislation. As a result, Kuwait was barred from receiving IOC funding and its athletes and officials were banned from Olympic Games and Olympic meetings. At the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics, Kuwaiti athletes competed as independent athletes under the Olympic Flag. On 14 July 2012 the suspension was lifted and Kuwaiti athletes were allowed to participate in the 2012 Summer Olympics under their own flag.
2015 Suspension
The Kuwait Olympic Committee was again suspended on 27 October 2015 by the IOC to protect the Olympic movement in Kuwait from undue government interference. As a result of this suspension, participation by athletes from Kuwait at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro was allowed under the banner of the International Olympic Committee and called Independent Olympic Athletes.