Clubs & Youth Centers
The modern sports were first known in
Kuwait in 1932 and the first football team i.e. 'Alahli'
club was established in 1947, then 'Jazeerah' followed
by 'Al Hilal'. In 1953 'Al Khalij' club was established,
and in 1954 the Cooperation club followed by 'Al Nahda'
club and the East Riadi club. In addition to that, year
4591 A.H. witnessed the establishment of four other
clubs out of which some were classified as the 2nd
category clubs.
The decision regarding the dissolution of these clubs in
addition to the freezing of all their activities issued
in 1959, came as a declaration of the end of the first
stage in the development of the Kuwaiti clubs. Therefore
the presence of a sport organization that includes all
these clubs and manages their tournaments was necessary.
This is why the Riadi club was established in 1952.
At present,
the state's interest in youth has
greatly contributed to the increase in the number of
sport clubs and youth centers. The number of sport clubs
increased from 8 in 1956 to 20 in 1998. Each of these
clubs contains an Olympic swimming pool, a multipurpose
indoor sports hall, tennis and squash courts, and
grounds for other sports. Similarly, the number of sport
unions reached 15 in 1998.
Youth centers allow their members to
participate in all sport, social, and cultural
activities through their programs. These programs
include competitions and meetings that encourage youth
to practice their hobbies and gain experience of
leadership. The government supplied these centers with
technical, structural, and managerial assistance. Also,
four outdoor swimming pools were built for practicing
water sports.
The number of youth centers increased
from two in 1963 to nine in 1998, with 8,313 members. In
addition to youth centers, there are five women's
centers serving almost 5,000 women a month. The
government not only cares for the youth's sport
development and the organization of sport camps to
develop their physical and mental abilities, but also
for the encouragement of entertainment and cultural
activities for children, women, and the disabled. In
1994, the Kuwait Disabled Sport Club was founded, and
its members reached 923 in 1998. Likewise, the Girls
Sporting Club offers the practice of almost all sports
for women and encourages them to participate in foreign
championships.
It is worth mentioning that there is
cooperation between the national sector and the sporting
clubs to develop sport in Kuwait. It is represented in
actions such as offering prizes for players, supporting
sport authorities financially, and funding sport-related
commercials. In comparison to other sporting clubs, the
Kuwait Disabled Sport Club receives the highest
financial support from individuals and companies.
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