An Olympics in the Middle East?
The region has never hosted the quadrennial competition, but the door could open in the future. The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) on Tuesday confirmed its bid to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Qatar is also in discussions with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and believes the country is ready to host, per a news release on its state agency website.
“We currently have 95 per cent of the required sports infrastructure in place to host the Games, and we have a comprehensive national plan to ensure 100 per cent readiness of all facilities,” QOC president Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani said in the release.
“This plan is rooted in a long-term vision aimed at building a socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable legacy. Our objective goes beyond simply organizing a successful event, we aim to deliver a global experience that reinforces the values of inclusivity, sustainability, and international collaboration.”
Qatar, where the Games would be held in the capital of Doha, would be the first country in the Middle East to host the event. Previous bids in 2016 and 2020 failed due to infrastructure concerns, but the number of stadiums built for the 2022 World Cup may help in the renewed attempt.
The country also hosted the Asian Cup soccer tournament in 2024 and is set to host the Asian Games in 2030, having previously done so in 2006.
Other nations that have submitted bids for 2036 include: Nusantara, Indonesia; Istanbul, Turkey; Ahmedabad, India and Santiago, Chile.
The Middle East’s influence over hosting global sporting events has amplified in recent years, with Saudi Arabia also set to host the 2034 World Cup.
It’s unclear, however, if the Summer Olympics would need to be moved to the winter months as the 2022 World Cup did for the first time due to the country’s extreme heat.
There is no timeline yet on when the IOC will make its decision.
Los Angeles, Calif., is the host city for the 2028 Games, while the 2032 edition will go down under to Brisbane, Australia.
For the Winter Olympics, the 2026 event will be held in Milan, Italy, before moving to the French Alps in 2030. The 2034 edition will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The FIFA 2022 World Cup will be held in Qatar at the Lusail Stadium. It is the first time that the sporting event will be held in an Arabic country.