SUBSCRIPTION SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2016 THULQADA 18, 1437 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Kuwait Govt World’s largest Undersea Vokes and Online portal: Muslim bloc surprise: Big-eyed Gray cut The ‘Google concerned by squid looks more Liverpool of Kuwait’5 Kashmir11 violence toy29 than animal down17 to size IOC: Kuwait ‘aggravating’ Min 33º tensions after Olympic ban Max 47º High Tide 01:52 & 13:31 Committee claims new sports law tightens govt control Low Tide 07:48 & 20:23 40 PAGES NO: 16969 150 FILS RIO DE JANEIRO: The International Olympic Committee on Friday accused Kuwait’s government of “aggravating” Unbeatable Bolt signs off with triple-triple the tensions that led to the country’s ban from the Rio Olympics. New and proposed laws on state controls RIO DE JANEIRO: Usain Bolt drew down the curtain over sporting bodies have led the IOC and world foot- on his brilliant Olympic career by securing a sweep ball body FIFA to suspend Kuwait since last October. The of the sprint titles for a third successive Games when Kuwait government has in turn condemned the IOC and Jamaica successfully defended the 4x100 m relay recently sought $1 billion in damages in a Swiss court, crown in Rio on Friday. Two days shy of his 30th which was rejected. birthday, Bolt anchored his country to victory in The IOC said in a letter to the Kuwait government, 37.27 seconds so adding the relay crown to the 100 which was seen by AFP, that a new law passed in June and 200 m titles he has owned since exploding onto tightens state control over sports bodies, rather than the Olympic stage in Beijing in 2008. loosening it. The letter said that “contrary to what has He will depart that stage never having tasted been suggested in a number of public statements... (the defeat in a final, his nine gold medals a joint record law) increases significantly the power of the govern- in athletics with Finnish distance runner Paavo ment authorities to interfere with the internal opera- Nurmi and American sprinter and long jumper Carl tions” of sports organizations. Lewis. In the eight years since Beijing, the 11-times Kuwait has since offered a new law, but the IOC world champion has become one of the best known rejected the draft. The letter added: “We have noted sportsmen on the planet and with the ‘triple-triple’ with great disappointment that it has been decided to issue a new law - without any prior consultation with has a legitimate claim to the title of greatest Olympic the sports organizations - which in fact is aggravating track and field athlete ever. the situation.” Because of the showdown, Kuwaiti ath- There has never been any doubt in the Jamaican’s letes at the Rio Olympics have competed as neutrals own mind. “There you go, I am the greatest. I’ve under the IOC flag. Fehaid Al-Deehani won the men’s worked hard every Olympics to win three gold double trap gold and Abdullah Al-Rashidi, wearing an medals... so I’m just happy that I’ve accomplished so Arsenal shirt, scooped a bronze in the men’s shooting much,” Bolt told reporters. “It’s a relief but I’m also skeet. sad that I have to leave. This is my last one... It’s just Kuwaiti leaders have praised the medal-winners so many special feelings I’m feeling.” without offering any concession in the battle with the There is no doubt that Bolt has transformed his IOC. The state has now been suspended twice by the sport, if only by almost single-handedly displacing IOC since 2010 over political interference. FIFA has the United States as the superpower of men’s sprint- frozen its membership three times since 2008. A UN ing. It was only almost single-handedly, though, as envoy and foreign governments have sought to act as his three Olympic relay titles, two in world record RIO DE JANEIRO: Jamaica’s Usain Bolt holds the flag of Brazil after winning the gold medal in the men’s intermediaries in the latest dispute, without success. times, always required the input of his fellow 4x100-meter relay final during the athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadi- The Olympic Council of Asia has its headquarters in Jamaican speedsters. — Reuters um on Friday. — AP (Full Olympics coverage on Pages 18-20) Kuwait and several members of the ruling family have sought roles in world sport. — AFP French burkini ban sparks disdain LONDON: The ban on the Islamic burkini uncommon sight in towns and city dis- swimsuit on some French beaches has tricts with big Muslim populations, but Turkey: Assad triggered disdain in English-speaking ostensibly does not stir as strong a reac- countries, where outlawing religion-ori- tion as in France. One of the world’s most can be part of ented clothing is seen as hampering secular countries, France strongly sepa- integration. Newspaper commentators rates religion and public life. Defenders Syria transition have condemned the ban as an absurdi- of the policy say a common arena with- ty, and one questioned how a burkini out religious connotations helps avoid could be more offensive than “middle- sectarian conflicts and encourages Nod to Israel deal aged bum crack” bursting out from tra- equality. As a result, the burkini - like the ISTANBUL: Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said ditional Western beachwear. And burqa before it - has come under fire in yesterday his country is willing to accept a role for experts said the debate raised questions France. Some deem it a garment that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad during a transitional about the French one-size-fits-all model channels radical Islam and oppresses period but insisted he has no place in Syria’s future. of integration. women. “Could Syria carry Assad in the long-term? Certainly In Britain, the full-face veil is not an Continued on Page 13 not,” Yildirim said. “The United States knows and Russia knows that QAMISHLI, Syria: A wounded child lies in a hospital bed in this northeastern city Assad does not appear yesterday, a day after he was wounded in an airstrike by Syrian government forces to be someone who can against Kurdish positions over the flashpoint northeastern city of Hasakeh. — AFP bring (the people) together. There may be talks (with Assad) for the Syria warplanes fly over Binali Yildirim transition. A transition may be facilitated. But city despite US warning we believe that there should be no (Kurdish rebels), Daesh or Assad in Syria’s future,” he said, using an HASAKEH, Syria: Syrian government consolidate territory in northern Syria as Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group. warplanes took to the skies again yester- “a threat”. He pledged to play a “more Meanwhile, the Turkish parliament approved a deal day over the flashpoint northeastern city active” in the next months in putting an to normalize ties with Israel after a delay caused by last of Hasakeh, despite a US warning against end to the conflict. Ankara sees Syrian month’s attempted coup, state-run media reported yes- new strikes that might endanger its mili- Kurdish militia as an offshoot of the out- terday. Lawmakers ratified late Friday the agreement to tary advisers. In another escalation of the lawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) that restore relations between the two former close regional five-year war, regime planes this week has waged a bloody campaign against allies after a six-year rift, before parliament was due to bombarded positions held by US-backed the Turkish state since 1984. go into summer recess. Under the deal, Israel will pay Kurdish forces in the city fighting the The unprecedented strikes prompted Turkey $20 million in compensation for a botched Israeli Islamic State (IS) jihadist group. the US-led coalition to scramble aircraft commando raid on a Gaza-bound Turkish aid ship in Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim to protect its special operations forces 2010 that left 10 Turks dead, state-run Anadolu news said the raids showed Damascus was helping the Kurdish fighters. agency said. — Agencies (See Page 8) NICE, France: This picture taken on Friday shows the bylaw forbidding women to starting to see the Kurdish attempt to Continued on Page 13 wear burkinis at the beach. — AFP Imam’s shooting shakes NY neighborhood NEW YORK: The gunman, police said, was “There’s tension now because of what hap- its most famous longtime resident was the Hispanic. His two victims were Bangladeshi pened,” said Sumona Kazi, 26, who was born late Mafia boss John Gotti. Jimmy Burke, the Muslims, one an imam, shot without provo- in Bangladesh but came to New York as a real-life mobster portrayed by Robert De Niro cation on their way home from their mosque. baby. She said she was confident that if the in “Goodfellas”, lived a short walk from the A week after the double killing, prosecutors motive was hatred, it was the hate of one shooting site. So did the not-yet-famous haven’t been able to offer any theory explain- person. “Our neighborhood - even if you’re Cyndi Lauper and Jack Kerouac. ing why the college janitor they charged with Spanish, you’re Arabic, you’re Muslim, you’re Dramatic change came in the ‘70s with the the crime, Oscar Morel, would have singled Guyanese, whatever - we’re a whole united arrival of a wave of Hispanic newcomers, out the two victims. Was it racial or religious family, you know? If you’re in trouble, we’re mostly from Puerto Rico and the Dominican hatred? Or maybe a bubbling up of old ten- going to go out for you,” she said.