Authorities said Tuesday that Doha is putting in a bid to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as the affluent Gulf state looks to diversify its energy-dependent economy by aiming for yet another major sporting event.
Qatar, one of the Gulf’s richest and smallest nations, has already hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2022.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, the prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, stated that if Qatar is selected, it will be the first nation in the Middle East and North Africa to host the Olympic Games.
In a statement posted on the official Qatar News Agency, he said, “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.”
