Justice in Investment in Clubs and Public Benefit Associations
I have written extensively over the past years about the importance of investing in the facilities of public benefit associations, particularly those serving youth, because I believe their role should not be limited to providing traditional activities, but rather that they should be genuine partners in nurturing youth potential and supporting small enterprises.
Therefore, I call on the Ministry of Social Affairs to reconsider its approach of suspending and refusing to license all ancillary activities for public benefit associations. The easiest solution is not always suspension; instead, a regulatory framework can be established that serves the public interest and maintains oversight, rather than imposing a complete closure.
I propose allowing all associations to invest in no more than 30% of their facilities, such as sports fields and theaters, under clear guidelines. These spaces should be utilized to establish and operate sports fields accessible to association members, local residents, and anyone willing to book at reasonable fees. A portion of the revenue generated would go to the association, and another portion to the state, according to a mechanism deemed appropriate by the Ministry.
This approach would yield numerous benefits: it would provide youth with an outlet for sports and productive use of their leisure time, grant associations a financial resource to help develop their activities, and preserve facilities that have cost significant sums to build, rather than leaving them idle or underutilized.
I also propose that the management of these facilities be entrusted to Kuwaiti youth who own specialized companies in operating sports complexes. This would open doors for small and medium-sized enterprises, create new job opportunities, and contribute to revitalizing sports academies and organizing community tournaments.
The beneficiaries of this proposal are not just one party, but everyone: the Ministry of Social Affairs, public benefit associations, youth, local residents, sports field users, and small business owners. This is an equation that can achieve both social and economic development simultaneously, if we invest in it wisely, rather than settling for prohibition decisions that often deprive society of opportunities that could have been regulated and leveraged.
On another note, regarding a matter concerning the Ministry of Sport, I see a lack of equity in investment among sports clubs. Some clubs have become tourist destinations or commercial complexes due to the abundance of shops, restaurants, and cafes within them, while other clubs, like Khaitan Club, are practically empty with virtually no investment. I wonder where the flaw lies? Is it laziness on the part of the boards of directors of some clubs? The dominance of others? Or the club’s location, which does not facilitate investment (as in the case of Al-Qadsia Club)?
A uniform standard must be applied to all clubs to enable them to invest in ways that generate revenue for the club’s budget, thereby positively impacting their performance in sports competitions. This is especially urgent given that we have heard, for the first time, about the cancellation of participation by several clubs in the league this season in certain sports due to financial deficits.
