Qatar officially enters dialogue with IOC to host 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games | World News – Times of India – Delhi News Daily

QOC President has confirmed ongoing discussions with the IOC regarding Doha’s potential bid for the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games/Image: File

TL;DR:

Qatar has officially declared its interest in hosting the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games, marking a significant step in the Gulf state’s strategic vision to position itself as a leading hub for global sports. The announcement was made by the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) through the Qatar News Agency (QNA), confirming that the country is in “continuous dialogue” with the International Olympic Committee under the IOC’s revised bidding process. The potential bid is seen as a continuation of Qatar’s ambition to leverage sports for economic diversification, global engagement, and national prestige following the successful hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Qatar’s Readiness and Infrastructure Advantage

Qatar has emphasized that it is well-prepared from an infrastructure standpoint, with nearly 95% of the venues and facilities required for hosting the Olympics already constructed. This readiness stems from over a decade of heavy investment in sports facilities and urban infrastructure tied to its successful hosting of international events. The stadiums and transport systems upgraded or built for the FIFA World Cup 2022, along with venues being prepared for the 2030 Asian Games, form a solid foundation for any future Olympic requirements. Speaking on the announcement, Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the QOC, highlighted that the existing infrastructure not only meets current international standards but also aligns with the IOC’s newer focus on sustainability and legacy use, ensuring that facilities would serve the community long after the Games. This focus reflects the IOC’s Agenda 2020 reforms, which encourage cities to utilize pre-existing infrastructure to reduce environmental and financial burdens.

A Historic First for the Middle East

If Qatar is successful in its bid, it would become the first nation in the Middle East to host the Olympics. This would be a milestone not just for Qatar but for the entire region, symbolizing the Gulf’s increasing role on the global sports stage. The 2022 World Cup, which was the first to be hosted in the Arab world, demonstrated Qatar’s capacity to manage complex, large-scale international events. Qatar’s bid is positioned as part of a broader strategy to present the region as open, capable, and ready to engage the world through sports. Hosting the Olympics would align with the nation’s Qatar National Vision 2030, a framework that emphasizes human development, economic diversification, and cultural enrichment.

International Competition for the 2036 Games

Qatar will not be alone in pursuing the 2036 Olympics. Several other countries have either confirmed or expressed interest in bidding. According to the IOC, interested nations include:

Each country is currently engaged in preliminary discussions or expressing early interest under the IOC’s new bidding framework, which replaced the traditional competitive bid process with a more flexible dialogue phase.

IOC’s Revised Bidding Process

The IOC has reformed its host city selection process to avoid the controversies and financial pitfalls that plagued past bidding cycles. Instead of cities spending millions on competitive bids, the IOC now conducts continuous dialogue with interested cities, ensuring alignment with the Olympic movement’s sustainability and cost-effectiveness goals. This approach benefits Qatar, given its already completed investments. By engaging early in the dialogue phase, Qatar enhances its positioning without incurring significant new financial commitments. The final decision on the host for 2036 is not expected for several years, but this early dialogue allows Qatar to align its proposals with IOC expectations.

Environmental and Social Legacy

Qatar’s bid is not solely focused on sports. The QOC has reiterated that the country aims to create a social, economic, and environmental legacy through the Olympics. This includes expanding community sports programs, promoting women’s sports participation, and further developing green infrastructure. Qatar has been keen on integrating sustainable practices in all its projects post-World Cup, and an Olympic bid would likely follow similar guidelines highlighting renewable energy use, water conservation, and minimizing the carbon footprint of event hosting.

Regional Sporting Aspirations

Hosting the Olympics would further bolster the Middle East’s burgeoning sports calendar. Qatar is already set to host the 2030 Asian Games, and Saudi Arabia is gaining momentum as a global sports hub, hosting high-profile boxing matches, Formula 1, and investing heavily in football via the Saudi Pro League. This growing competitive sports scene reflects the region’s ambition to diversify economically through tourism, entertainment, and sports.

Next Steps

While Qatar has entered into formal dialogue with the IOC, no official bid submission has yet been made. The nation will continue developing its proposal, with a focus on complying with the IOC’s evolving sustainability and legacy standards. The QOC has pledged transparency throughout the process, ensuring the public remains informed on developments. The final host city decision is expected to be made closer to the 2030s, but Qatar’s readiness and regional prominence position it as a leading contender. Qatar’s official talks with the IOC for the 2036 Olympics reaffirm the Gulf state’s long-term strategy of using sports as a diplomatic and developmental tool. With nearly all necessary infrastructure already in place and a proven track record in hosting world-class events, Qatar is set to make a compelling case. Whether or not it secures the bid, the move signals the Middle East’s continued ascent in the global sports hierarchy.