Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Shoura Council on Monday asked the General Sports Authority (GSA) to make it mandatory for sports clubs to carry out pre-season medical tests for all players and make it one of the conditions for their participation before the sports season.

Yahya Al-Samaan, assistant president of the Council, said that the Council took the decision after listening to the views of the committee for social, family and youth affairs on the members opinions and viewpoints about the annual report of GSA, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In another decision, the Council urged the authority to implement the Universal Accessibility Program (UAP) for persons with disabilities in all its facilities.

The Council called on GSA to expedite setting up, modernization and development of youth and sports facilities so as to cover all regions of the Kingdom in a way realizing the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

It urged the authority to include in its next annual reports the regulations concerning the establishment of sports groups and the strategic plans of the Saudi Olympic Committee and indexes measuring its performance, and what has so far been done regarding the implementation of the strategy to develop the economic feasibility of the sports sector.

Al-Samaan said the Council approved a proposal to carry out studies to incorporate a new article in the Child Protection Law and the amendment of Article 24 of the same law.

The amendment was proposed by Dr. Nora Al-Musaed, Dr. Mouda Al-Khalaf and Dr. Faisal Al-Fadel. It stipulates that the minister of labor and social development will issue regulations in coordination with the ministries of interior, justice, education and health as well as Human Rights Commission and other relevant agencies within 90 days after the publication of the amended law in the official gazette.

The Council also approved a draft organizational byelaw of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Award to honor innovators and talented people. The bylaw, consisting of 20 articles, encourages and appreciates innovators and outstanding talented people in the fields of science, technology and innovation. It also promotes the spirit of creativity and innovation.