Doha is ramping up efforts to bring the Olympic Games to the Middle East for the first time. According to the Qatari daily newspaper Al-Watan, the nation’s Olympic Committee is preparing a comprehensive bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.

The bid file will involve all relevant government agencies as Qatar aims to leverage its expertise in hosting major sporting events like the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Officials believe around 80% of the required venues are already in place, along with modern transportation infrastructure.

Qatar has been steadily building its resume by organizing world championships in athletics, aquatics, handball, and Asian football tournaments. It is also gearing up to host the 2030 Asian Games.

While never hosting an Olympics, the Gulf nation feels its event pedigree and existing facilities make a compelling case to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Still, the competition is heating up, with India, Germany, Turkey, South Korea, Indonesia, and Hungary also exploring 2036 bids.

The IOC’s Future Host Commission, led by former Croatian president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, is engaging interested nations through an ongoing dialogue process. Once a potential host is identified as a good fit, it becomes the preferred candidate for an eventual IOC vote after undergoing a thorough evaluation.

With Los Angeles and Brisbane elected as 2028 and 2032 Olympic hosts nearly 11 years out, Grabar-Kitarović does not anticipate a 2036 decision until 2026 or 2027 at the earliest.

For Qatar, securing the 2036 Games would cap an ambitious journey to bring the world’s biggest sporting spectacle to the Middle Eastern region.

Source: Al-Watan Newspaper, Games Bids

Image: Doha 2030 Asian Games bid