Report courtesy of WSF.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) have just announced the suspension of the Kuwait Olympic Committee (KOC) ‘to protect the Olympic Movement in Kuwait from undue government interference’. Having set the Government of Kuwait a deadline by which to resolve their sports legislation issues, as they had not done so, suspension has been the result.
Unfortunately, because the WSF Men’s World Team Championship is scheduled to be held in Kuwait in six weeks’ time there is a direct impact upon squash. The Government are now unable to host the event without further prejudicing their position; so regretfully Kuwait Squash Federation have today informed us that they have to cancel their hosting of the event.
That is the bad news, but the very good news is that the Egyptian Squash Federation have stepped in to take on the role of hosts. So the Championship will take place on the same dates and on previously published basis; with simply a change of venue – Cairo, Egypt.
However, while it is appreciated that we are fortunate to be able to avoid postponing the event with the support of the Egyptian Federation, many teams will already have arranged their travel to Kuwait. We hope that you have changeable or cancellable tickets, or can add an extra leg from Kuwait to complete journeys if this applies.
The Office is working with the Egyptian Squash Federation in order to update the Championship Information and these details will be circulated to you within a few days so that you can confirm your plans.
Nations that have entered the Men’s World Team Championship do have a short period offered in which to withdraw their team due to the change of host; while other members may use the same period to enter a team if they wish. All entries will be assumed to be taken forward unless a withdrawal is received no later than 23:59hrs GMT on Thursday 5th November, with the same deadline applicable for any new entrants.
Meanwhile, with the cooperation of the Kuwait Squash Federation who were preparing a superb Championship on behalf of all the visiting teams, we will be getting the entry fee and additional accommodation payments that have already been made to them transferred to the WSF so that they can be taken forward for Egypt, or returned to the National Federation in the case of withdrawal or additional hotel rooms not being needed.
Thank you all for your support and cooperation in respect of this unfortunate set of circumstances that we have been faced with; we now look forward to going forward with the Championship in Egypt with our gratitude to the Egyptian Squash Federation.
For more information, visit www.wsfmensteams.com.
