Kuwait welcomed back to Asian Games with OCA warning

Kuwait was warned by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) today to stop its "world record" of government interference in sport or face being exiled for a third time.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) this week provisionally lifted its ban on Kuwait, allowing the Gulf state's athletes to march under their own flag at Saturday's Asian Games opening ceremony in Jakarta.

But the IOC said that despite its "gesture of goodwill" the reasons for its original suspension remained valid.

"This is a world record for government interference in the Olympic movement, no country is like this," OCA director general Husain Al Musallam told AFP after an executive board meeting discussed the matter in Jakarta today.

"We are very happy for the Kuwait National Olympic Committee and for the athletes," he said.

"We hope this will not happen in the future and the Kuwait government will respect the road map they have agreed with the IOC to lead to fresh, clean, transparent and democratic elections based on each sport's statutes approved by their respective international bodies."