Sheikh Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (10 August 1945 – 2 August 1990) ( ar, الشيخ فهد الأحمد الجابر الصباح ) was a member of the House of Sabah and a Kuwaiti military officer who was also the founder of the Asian Handball Federation and

Kuwait Olympic Committee Kuwait Olympic Committee ( ar, اللجنة الأولمبية الكويتية, IOC code: KUW) is the National Olympic Committee representing Kuwait and organising the Kuwait Olympic team. 2010–2012 suspension The International Olympic Co ...

. Fahad was killed fighting alongside the Kuwait Emiri Guard in defending Dasman Palace.

Early life

Fahad was the son of Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and was educated in Kuwait for his primary and secondary schooling.

Military career

Fahad was commissioned in the

Kuwait Armed Forces The Kuwait Armed Forces ( ar, القوات المسلحة الكويتية, Al-Quwwat Al-Musallahah Al-Kuwaitiyah) are the military forces of the Kuwait, State of Kuwait. They consist of the Kuwait Air Force, the Kuwait Army, the Kuwait Naval For ...

on April 22, 1963 as an

Aspirant Aspirant is a rank in the Royal Canadian Navy, Estonian Defence Forces, French military, Brazilian military, Portuguese military, Swiss military, Italian Air Force, Argentinian Armed Forces, Romanian Navy, Polish Policja and Państwowa Straż ...

. He pursued further military training in a military institution in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

on July 30, 1964. Fahad was subsequently promoted to Second lieutenant on July 19, 1965 and

First lieutenant First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment. The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a ...

on March 1, 1967. On June 7, 1970 he was promoted to the rank of

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

Military commands

* Acting commander by delegation of the 2nd

Commando 40_Commando.html" ;"title="Royal Marines from 40 Commando">Royal Marines from 40 Commando on patrol in the Sangin area of Afghanistan are pictured A commando is a combatant, or operative of an elite light infantry or special operations forc ...

Battalion, Kuwait 25th Commando Brigade attached to the Yarmouk Brigade * Staff Officer in the Kuwait Emiri Guard on November 25, 1968 in the rank of First-Lieutenant

Fatah membership and Six-Day War, 1967

Fahad was a member of the Palestinian group Fatah when it was headquartered in Jordan. In June 1967, the Kuwait Armed Forces were engaged outside the borders of Kuwait for the first time, during the

Six-Day War The Six-Day War (, ; ar, النكسة, , or ) or June War, also known as the 1967 Arab–Israeli War or Third Arab–Israeli War, was fought between Israel and a coalition of Arab world, Arab states (primarily United Arab Republic, Egypt, S ...

between Israel and four Arab countries (Egypt, Iraq, Syria and Jordan). Fahad took part in the Six-Day War attached to the Yarmouk Brigade of the Kuwait Army; as acting commander by delegation of the 2nd Commando Battalion, on the Egyptian front. In 1971 Fahad was arrested due to his involvement in Fatah activities and sent to Kuwait.

Olympic and sports administration career

Kuwait sports

* President,

, 1974–1985 and 1989–1990. * President, Qadsia Sports Club, 1969–1979. * President, Kuwait Basketball Federation, 1974–1978.

Arab sports

* First Vice President, Arab Sports Union 1976–1990. * First Vice- President, Arab Basketball Federation 1974–1976.

Asian sports

* President, Asian Handball Federation, 1974–1990. * President,

Asian Games Federation The Asian Games Federation (AGF) was the governing body of sports in Asia from 1949 to 1982. The federation was disbanded on 16 November 1982 in New Delhi and succeeded by the Olympic Council of Asia. The AGF was responsible for the organisatio ...

, 1979–1982. * President, Olympic Council of Asia, 1982–1990.

International sports

* Vice-President, International Handball Federation, 1980–1990. * Vice-President, Association of National Olympic Committee, 1979–1990. * Member,

International Olympic Committee The International Olympic Committee (IOC; french: link=no, Comité international olympique, ''CIO'') is a non-governmental sports organisation based in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is constituted in the form of an association under the Swis ...

, 1981–1990. * Member, IOC Executive Board, 1985–1989.

1982 World Cup incident

During the match against

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...

at the 1982 FIFA World Cup, France scored a goal while some of the Kuwaiti players had stopped, having heard a whistle. The goal was initially awarded by the referee, who had not blown, but was cancelled after Fahad stepped onto the field and ordered the referee to reverse his decision. A few months before his death, Fahad invited

Michel Platini Michel François Platini (born 21 June 1955) is a French association football, football Administrator (business), administrator and former player and manager. Regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Platini won the Ballon d'Or ...

(at the time the French football team's captain) to apologize for his unethical behavior eight years before.

Dasman Palace

In August 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait.The Crimes of Saddam Hussein
by Dave Johns While Kuwait was being overrun, the Emir of Kuwait escaped from the country. Various Military Forces units were engaged in different battle sectors; Fahad died fighting alongside the Kuwait Emiri Guard commanders in the Battle of Dasman Palace.

Personal life

Fahad was married and was the father of five sons and one daughter. One of his sons is Ahmed Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, who was president of the Olympic Council of Asia, as well as a member of the

Honours and awards

National

* Military Service Medal, Bronze * Medal of Military Duty, First Class

Foreign

* Order of military courage of Egypt, First Class * Order of Republic of Tunisia * Order of Republic of Yemen, First Class * Honorary Doctorate from

Helwan University Helwan University is a public university based in Helwan, Egypt, which is part of Greater Cairo on over . It comprises 23 faculties and two higher institutes in addition to 50 research centers. Overview Helwan University is a member of the ...

, Egypt * Olympic Gold Medal from the General Secretariat of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf * Appreciation Decoration on behalf of UNESCO * Honorary Doctorate in Law from University of Seoul, South Korea * Honorary citizenship of Japan

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sabah, Fahad 1945 births 1990 deaths House of Al-Sabah Sport in Kuwait Founders of sporting institutions Anti-Zionism Military personnel killed in the Gulf War Deaths by firearm in Kuwait Kuwaiti murder victims People murdered in Kuwait Fatah members