TargetTalk

An important, but in my opinion very necessary and very equitable, even righteous step by the IOC, on behest of the ISSF:

http://www.issf-sports.org/news.ashx?newsid=2441
http://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-executi ... ait/247400
(one can add this one too: http://www.olympic.org/news/suspension- ... tee/247383 )

The Asian Shooting Championships - right now set to begin - have been stripped of the qualification ability for Olympic quota places. The reasons are given in the article. And IOC & ISSF are right in their stance. A rare, but welcome show of standing up for values.

Alexander

FIFA also did the same thing earlier.
What I cannot find is the exact reason of the suspension. Both FIFA and IOC pointed out that it came from a passing of a sports law, but I can never find the actual law concerned anywhere.

As for the denial of visa of an Israeli official, it is icing on the cake. It is a clear demonstration of government interference.

Interesting news, thanks!

conradin wrote:FIFA also did the same thing earlier.
What I cannot find is the exact reason of the suspension. Both FIFA and IOC pointed out that it came from a passing of a sports law, but I can never find the actual law concerned anywhere.

I shall endeavour to answer Conradin's very reasonable question (and his embedded justifed criticism) from my own position of "ignorant curiosity", while standing on a legal podium. The laws and decrees-in-law have been listed by the English language Kuwaiti media with their numbers (the latest is from 2015), but their cntents have not been explained, even less the points of contention. This might appear all the more puzzling since the continued strife now lasts since 2009/2010, and had already in the past led to one suspension of the Emirate of Kuwait in the IOC, upon which they promised improvement. The recalcitrance of the state might hence appear rather stiff-necked.

In spite of the imprecision of the media reports, it seems possible to me, to infer with with reasonable certainty from the diverging aratives of the two sides, what might and likely is the root of the problem.

The IOC side (apparently also supported by the Kuwaiti NOC, at least under the hand) has repeatedly outlined the "Olympic Principles", notably independence of sports, self-government on a democratic base (including the election of officials) and freedom of statal interference. These principles are alien to the Kuwaiti and indeed to many of the Gulf Emirates' statal systems, where participation still is based more on principles of "maglis" than on the outdated Westminster or updated Swiss systems. One would suppose that officials of the sports associations (including the Kuwaiti Shooting Sports Federation, KSSF) are either appointed, or else provided, or at least formally approved by the government (which is the family of the Emir). Vide:
"PAYS also criticized Kuwaiti executive officials at the FIFA for having failed to do something to defer this decision, reminding them that they had only assumed their executive posts through the state’s support."
http://news.kuwaittimes.net/website/pay ... cup-semis/
http://news.kuwaittimes.net/website/ioc ... lams-plot/
Also, it appears that the state has a strong or rather, the only say in the development of sports, decisions about stadia, financing etc.

The Public Authority for Youth and Sports (PAYS) and also the leadership of KSSF in defiance to these demands states, in a very sycophancy and obsequious tone, the "wise leadership", the "concern" and the "benevolence" of the state, and that the athletes in general be perfectly content and happy with this leadership, which has always been to the best of the sport, and never oppressive. A sweet yoke, as they exalt, and only "some sides" _within_ Kuwait politics and society would be fomenting this spat with the IOC, for their own purposes.

I think the discrepancy of judgement becomes clear through these narratives.

Alexander

Update: as far as "only" the MQS and the opportunity to be eligible be concerned, there has already been created a remedy with the recent upgrade of the Bangkong Workld Cup from 1st to 9th March 2016, see here:
http://www.usashooting.org/news/2015/10 ... pportunity
But that can hardly bring quota slots.

Another opportunity would be a boosting of the so-called "Oceanian Championships" from 25th Nov to 3rd Dec 2015, where Asian participants could compete as guests with each other for quotas. The name "continental championships" however is a slightly pompous exaggeration for what is really nothing more than a local derby of Diggers v. Kiwis (see the participants). The "Pacific Games" on the other hand are more of a leisure shooting event, but at least they have a wider participation.

The range capacity in Sidney should be enough for so many shooters from Asia, since it had hosted the 2000 Olypic Games. However, the Chinese and Koreans would lionize the event, while smaller countries do not have the unlimited state funding to send their athletes away for a second time in the same month.

Alexander

Alexander wrote: ...Another opportunity would be a boosting of the so-called "Oceanian Championships" from 25th Nov to 3rd Dec 2015, where Asian participants could compete as guests with each other for quotas. The name "continental championships" however is a slightly pompous exaggeration for what is really nothing more than a local derby of Diggers v. Kiwis (see the participants). The "Pacific Games" on the other hand are more of a leisure shooting event, but at least they have a wider participation.

The range capacity in Sidney should be enough for so many shooters from Asia, since it had hosted the 2000 Olypic Games. However, the Chinese and Koreans would lionize the event, while smaller countries do not have the unlimited state funding to send their athletes away for a second time in the same month.

Alexander

Good idea and great description of the Oceania Champs!

But... It's far too late. The Australian requirements to import a firearm are so long and complicated you have to start the application process before you know you want to go...

As to the number of afflicted athletes:

Total number of nations:
33
Total number of athletes:
854
Total number of starts:
1311

Source: http://www.issf-sports.org/media/calend ... 151029.pdf

UPDATE:
As much as I can see from the present participation results which are accessible online via http://results.sius.com , the Japanese shooting team seems to have completely bailed out (all the DNS entries).

Alexander

Update 1:

The first sacrifice is a high Kuwaiti official. The signal of IOC and ISSF was understood.

"The General Assembly of Asian Shooting Confederation has also held Elections where upon commencement H.E. Sheikh Salman Al Sabah has informed the house that he would like to withdraw his nomination as the ASC President for the benefit of Shooting Sport in Asia and participating Athletes. He also expressed his support and cooperation with the new candidate H.E. Sheikh Ali Al-Khalifa [from Bahrain] as the ASC President."
http://asia-shooting.org/news/templates ... 0&zoneid=5

Also, al-Otaibi of KSSF has been made to realize that he is a liability on wheels and no longer supportable for the ASC, so...:
"Meanwhile, President of Kuwait and Arab Shooting Federations Engineer Duaij Khalaf Al-Otaibi gave up his membership of ASC executive committee"
http://news.kuwaittimes.net/website/she ... mpionship/

Update 2:

The malfeasant Kuwaiti Shooting Sports Federation is publishing an informative listing who WOULD have won a quota place, if these Asian Championships _were_ liable to distribute such place. So far, so fine. Only thagt they should have used the irrealis mode, and they didn't.
http://www.kssf.com.kw/13asian/quta.html

Which has now prompted a stern admonishment by ISSF:

The ISSF confirms once again that the International Olympic Committee has revoked the Olympic Qualifying Status of the Asian Shooting Championships now taking place in Kuwait.In reference to the ISSF circular letter of 30 October 2016, the ISSF confirms once again that the International Olympic Committee has revoked the Olympic Qualifying Status of the Asian Shooting Championships now taking place in Kuwait. This means there are no quota places for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro to be awarded in this Championship. Further no scores obtained by athletes in the Asian Championship will qualify for MQS status.

The IOC took this decision “in order to protect the Olympic Movement in Kuwait from undue government interference.” The ISSF is very concerned about the competitions now taking place in Kuwait because the organizer has wrongly and without authority informed participants and media that Olympic quotas are being awarded. To restate the IOC decision, there are no quota places to be awarded in the Asian Championship.

To protect the rights of Asian shooting athletes to compete to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games, the IOC Executive Board directed the ISSF to propose an “alternative event in which the Olympic qualification quota places will be allocated for Asia.” The ISSF already has four formal applications and will announce the location and dates for the Asian Olympic shooting qualification competition as soon as ISSF Executive Committee and IOC approvals are obtained.

http://www.issf-sports.org/news.ashx?newsid=2444

Alexander

The official results book of the Asian Championships is available now online:

http://asia-shooting.org/news/articlefi ... nships.pdf

And the story goes on. For the third time, the state of Kuwait loses with much egg on its (collective) face. Here:
http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_u ... e_3867.pdf
http://www.issf-sports.org/news.ashx?newsid=2449

But its continuing hardened obstreperousness (as reflected here: http://www.indianshooting.com/mstories/ ... ederation/ ) is breath-taking.

With good reason, the chairperson of the IOC Athletes Committee decried the rogue attitude of Kuwait, that only harms the athletes:
http://www.olympic.org/news/statement-f ... tes/247472

Alexander

I have been much talking with myself in this thread.

Well. That ensures congeniality. ;-) :-P

But here are the latest news, fresh out of the oven:

1. The ISSF just held its annual championship organizers meeting in Munich (Hilton Hotel), on FRday 20th and Saturday 21st. The report of the meeting very purporsefully did not mention the alternative venue for the Asian Quota Qualification, although the topic was dicussed among the delegates. Loud silence. Here: http://www.issf-sports.org/news.ashx?newsid=2450

2. Thankfully, others have come forward. According to a report quoted by the "usually well-informed" Inside The Games website
http://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/ ... ion-status ,
which originally was published in the Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/spor ... 869206.cms

New Delhi is reportedly set to host an alternative Rio 2016 Olympic qualifier for Asian shooters following the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) controversial decision to withdraw their recognition of this month's continental championships in Kuwait City.
Competition will be held at the Dr Karni Singh shooting ranges in Tughlakabad from January 24 to February 4 next year, the Times of India has written, citing unnamed sources from the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF).
The Indian capital has reportedly been chosen over rival bids from Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates, partly due to its offer to hold all three disciplines of rifle, pistol and shotgun.
A total of 35 quota places are set to be offered across the three disciplines,

Alexander

Hi Alexander
Your news is much appreciated, we are all reading it with great interest. I think we are all maintaining a diplomatic silence, if you know what I mean :-)
Regards
Martin

During the ASC general assembly (which was reported on 18th/19th November), the "unanimous" (ahem) diplomatic silence was more of a diplomatic ruse. You know what I mean. ;-)
I was a bit miffed about that double-tonguedness, but...

The Kuwaiti side has published a (slanted and selected) excerpt of correspondence. One of the pieces is this example:
http://www.alqabas.com.kw/Photo.aspx?id=839518

1st Law of Holes: If you find yourself in a hole, quit digging.

The Quota Places will now be awarded in New Delhi

No entry fees, local transportation hotel fees or meal charges for a limited number of athletes per delegation.

http://www.issf-sports.org/news.ashx?newsid=2451

Fair enough ! Bravo. :-)

There are many updates on this epic saga. As to the athletes, the NRAI has now made public the list of those Indian athletes who will (again) compete for Olympic quota places and MQS:
http://www.thenrai.in/PDF/a69588e0-66df ... 37346d.pdf

As to knights and knaves, hobbits and orcs, the http://www.insidethegames.biz website has many intriguing updates on the battle of The Rogue State of Kuwait against The Rest of The World, bitterly feuding members of the same noble family etc.
Game of Thrones is boring in comparison.

Alexander

Alexander wrote:Game of Thrones is boring in comparison.

Reality ALWAYS beats fiction by far...