Sheikh Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah was the ninth and youngest son of Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait from 1921-1950. After undertaking his basic schooling in Kuwait, Fahad became an officer candidate with the Kuwaiti Army in 1963 and was sent to England the following year to attend the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He remained with the military until 1973, retiring with the rank of captain, and then embarked on a career of sports administration. Among his many appointments were tenures as the President of the Kuwait Olympic Committee (1974-1985, 1989-1990), the Kuwait Football Association (1978-1986, 1987-1990), the Kuwait Basketball Federation (1974-1977), and the Olympic Council of Asia (1982-1990). He became a member of the International Olympic Committee in 1981 and remained in this position until the August 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, when he was shot and killed during the Battle of Dasman Palace. His death defending the palace was seen as heroic by the Kuwaitis and numerous sporting tournaments and venues are named in his honour. His son Ahmed became a member of the IOC in 1991, a distinction which he continues to hold as of 2022.
Kuwait