Doha
\nDoha is bidding to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games, authorities said on Tuesday, as the wealthy Gulf state sets its sights on yet another major sport event to diversify its energy-reliant economy. One of the smallest and wealthiest states in the Gulf, Qatar had already hosted the 2022 Fifa World Cup.
\nShould it be chosen, Qatar would become the first country in the Middle East and North Africa to host the Olympic Games, said Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani.
\n\u201cThe official bid submitted by the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games represents a new milestone in Qatar\u2019s journey,\u201d he said in a statement shared on the official Qatar News Agency.
\n\u201cThe bid builds on Qatar\u2019s proven track record of successfully hosting major international sporting events, most notably the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022,\u201d Sheikh Mohammed added.
\nAmnesty International and other rights groups claimed thousands of migrant workers died in the lead-up to the 2022 tournament. However, Doha has said only 37 workers on World Cup projects perished, and only three in work-related accidents.
\nPresident of the Qatar Olympic Committee Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani said Doha had \u201c made sport a central pillar of our national strategy\u201d.
\n\u201cWe currently have 95% of the required sports infrastructure in place to host the Games, and we have a comprehensive national plan to ensure 100% readiness of all facilities,\u201d he said.
\nCountries are no longer required to make their Olympic bids public.
\nThe Games are meant to rotate continents every season. With the 2024, 2028, and 2032 editions set for Europe, North America, and Oceania, there are high chances the 2036 Olympic Games will be held in Asia \u2014 or in Africa, which would be a first.
\nChoosing the next host of the games will be the first major project for the International Olympic Committee\u2019s (IOC) new president Kirsty Coventry, who last month became the first woman to lead the body.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Doha Doha is bidding to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games, authorities said on Tuesday, as the wealthy Gulf state sets its sights on yet another major sport event to diversify its energy-reliant economy. One of the smallest and wealthiest states in the Gulf, Qatar had already hosted the 2022 Fifa World Cup. Should […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":492078,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-492066","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n