Youth Committee Investigates Alleged Waste at Olympic Pool and Appoints Lawyer for Follow-up

The Parliamentary Youth and Sports Committee held a meeting chaired by MP Simon Abi Ramia, attended by MPs Pierre Bou Assi, Ghassan Atallah, Agop Terzian, Razi al-Hajj, Waddah al-Sadek, Melhem Khalaf, Adnan Traboulsi, and Raed Barro. The committee discussed judicial files related to suspicions of waste and theft in sports facilities, alongside preparations for the Beirut Marathon and cooperation with the Bar Association.

At the beginning of the meeting, the committee listened to a presentation by the president of the Beirut Marathon Association, May Khalil, and Samer Makarem, regarding preparations for the marathon scheduled for November 29 next month. An invitation was extended to committee members and MPs to participate in the event, with an agreement reached to coordinate efforts to ensure wide parliamentary attendance.

The meeting addressed the complaints filed before the judiciary concerning suspicions of waste and corruption at the Olympic pool within the President Emile Lahoud Sports Complex in Dbayeh. Committee members were briefed on communications held with the judiciary, particularly with the First Investigating Judge in Mount Lebanon, Nada Al-Assmar.

MP Abi Ramia clarified after the meeting that "the complaint submitted by the MPs, despite more than two years having passed since its submission, is still awaiting referral from the Public Prosecution Office in Mount Lebanon to the First Investigating Judge." He noted that "investigations began based on another complaint filed by journalists," announcing their intention to communicate with the Ministry of Justice and the Public Prosecution Office in Mount Lebanon to expedite procedures.

The committee also discussed the complaint filed by MP Waddah al-Sadek regarding suspicions of theft and waste at the President Camille Chamoun Sports City, and decided to appoint a lawyer to follow up on both files before the judiciary.

Committee Chairman MP Simon Abi Ramia pointed out that "the Director General of the Public Institution for Sports, Youth, and Scouting Facilities, Naji Hammoud, filed a personal lawsuit before the judiciary on October 19, 2026, regarding encroachments on properties belonging to the institution. According to what was presented in the meeting, there is an entity occupying an area of approximately 15,000 square meters within the sports city, using hangars there and renting them to others." The committee affirmed its support for judicial measures and continued follow-up on the case.

The meeting concluded with an agreement to hold a near-term meeting with the Bar Association, aiming to coordinate the follow-up of complaints before the judiciary and work on developing sports legislation in Lebanon.