Qatar bids to become first Gulf state to host Olympics

DOHA (Agencies): The Qatar Olympic Committee announced a bid Tuesday to host the 2036 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. If successful, the oil-rich Gulf state would become the first country from the Middle East and North Africa region to host the event. Qatar hosted the men’s FIFA World Cup in 2022 and already has “95 percent of the required sports infrastructure in place to host the Games,” and “a comprehensive national plan to ensure 100 percent readiness of all facilities,” said QOC president Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani. Doha, the capital city, is scheduled to host the Asian Games in 2030. “Building on the monumental success of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, we reaffirm our readiness to bring the world together under the banner of the Olympic values just as we did in 2022, when Doha welcomed over one million traveling fans from around the globe,” the pitch read. “Our journey to 2022 was one of tremendous growth. The path toward 2036 will build on that foundation with a new kind of legacy: an achievement that crowns Qatar’s efforts to develop skills and create economic opportunities for all its people.” Extreme temperatures are a major concern in the region. High temperatures in Doha on Tuesday reached 111 degrees Fahrenheit, for example. The 2022 World Cup was moved to the winter to help with the issue.

Other confirmed bids for 2036 include Istanbul (Turkey), Ahmedabad (India), Nusantara (Indonesia) and Santiago (Chile). Countries considering bids reportedly include Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Egypt, Italy, Germany, Denmark and Canada. The Summer Olympics are scheduled for Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane, Australia, in 2032.