Qatar announced Tuesday it’s actively discussing a bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympics.
According to Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, head of the Qatari Olympic Committee and bid leader, the country is well-prepared. “We already have 95% of the sports infrastructure we need, and a solid plan to get everything fully ready,” he said in a statement.
Qatar, fresh off hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, hopes to become the first country in the Middle East and North Africa to host the Olympic Games, according to Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani.
The process for selecting Olympic host cities has changed. Instead of public bids, countries now have confidential discussions with the IOC before a final decision. This is how Brisbane was chosen for the 2032 Games – a bid Qatar also considered.
Former IOC President Thomas Bach mentioned a “double-digit number” of countries interested in hosting the 2036 or 2040 Games, including India, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, and Hungary.
With the Olympics rotating continents, and editions planned for Europe, North America, and Oceania in the coming years, the 2036 Games are likely to return to Asia – unless Africa gets its first chance to host.
The selection of the 2036 host will be one of the first big tasks for new IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who took office in June. She’s currently reviewing the selection process and hasn’t set a firm timeline for a decision.
