Qatar has formally submitted its bid to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games, aiming to become the first country in the Middle East and North Africa to stage the prestigious global sporting event.
The bid was announced on Tuesday by Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who described the move as “a new milestone in Qatar’s journey” and a continuation of the nation’s strategy to diversify its economy through sports and tourism.
“The official bid submitted by the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games represents a new milestone in Qatar’s journey,” Sheikh Mohammed said in a statement published by the Qatar News Agency. “The bid builds on Qatar’s proven track record of successfully hosting major international sporting events, most notably the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.”
Qatar’s bid is bolstered by its existing infrastructure, with the QOC President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani noting that the country already has 95% of the required sports facilities in place. “We have a comprehensive national plan to ensure 100% readiness of all facilities,” he said.
The bid follows a series of high-profile events hosted by the Gulf nation, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup — the first ever to be held in the Arab world.
While Qatar’s sporting ambitions have drawn global recognition, they have also been accompanied by controversy. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have accused the country of labor abuses and claim thousands of migrant workers died during World Cup preparations — a charge Qatar disputes. Authorities insist that only 37 workers died on tournament-related projects, with just three deaths classified as work-related.
If selected, Qatar’s 2036 Olympics would be held in a region that has never before hosted the Summer Games. With the 2024, 2028, and 2032 editions awarded to France (Europe), the United States (North America), and Australia (Oceania) respectively, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is expected to turn its attention to Asia or Africa for 2036.
The final decision will be the first major undertaking for the newly elected IOC President Kirsty Coventry — the first woman to hold the position — who assumed office last month.
