Former Kism Sports Club board rejects Iraqi Olympic Committee's interim appointment

BABIL, Iraq — Former members of the board of Kism Sports Club in Babil province staged a sit-in on Saturday to protest the Iraqi Olympic Committee's decision to install an interim administrative council at the club. Former technical director Jaafar Talib said eight different boards had served at the club over a span of one year and ten months, and that administrative, financial and technical instability had directly affected the team's performance. He said the club houses 200 to 250 athletes and coaches and that the problems extend beyond the first team. Former board member Haydar Imad said the outgoing board had been formed in line with a provincial directive and the law, and expressed surprise at the decision to dissolve it. Imad said an electoral process had been initiated but was cut short by the dissolution order. Fan Abu Zahra Rabii stressed that there was no personal opposition to the new council, and that the demand was for an elected board to serve a four-year term. The Olympic Committee appointed a new interim council four days ago under the chairmanship of Mohammed Adel Mohammed, announcing that elections would be held within three months at the latest.