Qatar's bid to host 2036 Olympics, a culmination of sporting successes: Al Buanain
HE Secretary-General of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Jassim bin Rashid Al Buanain emphasized that Qatar's bid to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games is the culmination of sporting successes.
In a post on his official 'X' platform account, His Excellency said that Qatar's bid to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games is the fruit of years of experience in organizing major international tournaments, and the culmination of sporting successes.
He added that this step confirms the readiness of Qatari cadres to lead the future of sports with confidence and distinction.
Qatar has a proven track record of success in hosting major international sporting events, having hosted 18 world championships over the past 20 years, particularly the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, considered the best edition in the history of the World Cup, the 2015 World Handball Championship, the 2019 World Athletics Championship, the 2024 World Aquatics Championships, and the 2025 World Table Tennis Championships. Qatar has also hosted major multi-sport tournaments, especially the 2006 Asian Games.
If Qatar wins the bid to host the Games, it will be the first Olympic Games in the Middle East and North Africa. This will enable Qatar to present a unique Arab Olympic model based on diversity and openness, building on a sustainable legacy and the ability of sport to spread hope and peace, while enhancing regional representation and highlighting the potential of Arab youth. (QNA)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
16 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
Maertens makes golden start at swimming worlds
DPA Singapore Germany's Lukas Maertens added a world title to his 2024 Olympic gold when he triumphed in the 400-metres freestyle in Singapore on Sunday. It was the 23-year-old's first world championship gold. He touched the wall in 3 minutes 42.35 seconds, securing victory ahead of second-placed Samuel Short from Australia. Bronze went to South Korea's Kim Woo Min. 'I am very proud, very happy. It was not a given that I would pull this off. Sam Short is also in excellent form,' Maertens told reporters. 'This was the one title I was still missing. Now I have it. A lot of pressure has been lifted.' The swimming events in the pool at the World Aquatics Championships began on Sunday and run until next Sunday. Germany previously found success in the open water swimming events in Singapore, with Florian Wellbrock sealing three individual golds and helping Germany to mixed relay success. Maertens' impressive form this year was already evident in April when he broke Paul Biedermann's 16-year-old world record in the 400m freestyle with 3:39.96. He had previously only managed bronze and silver in the 400m at world championships. Maertens is also considered a top contender for gold in the 800m freestyle despite health problems in the run-up to Singapore. In the women's 400m freestyle, Canadian Summer McIntosh reigned supreme, putting China's Li Bingjie and US great Katie Ledecky in her wake. A time of 3:56.26 brought her a fifth world championship gold but first in this event, where she took silver at last year's Paris Olympics. In the 4x100m freestyle relays, Australia were unbeatable. The men set a world championship record of 3:08.97 with Flynn Southam, Kai James Taylor, Maximillian Guiliani and Kyle Chambers leaving Italy to settle for second and the US third. The Australian quartet of Mollie O'Callaghan, Meg Harris, Milla Jansen and Olivia Wunsch also won women's gold. The US took silver and the Netherlands bronze. There were reports of sickness in some camps earlier this week including the US team. Monday's highlights include men's 100m breaststroke, women's 100m butterfly, men's 50m fly and women's 200m medley.
Qatar Tribune
17 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar's bid to host 2036 Olympics a strategic leap toward global sporting leadership: Experts
Khaled Al Hameidi Doha In a historic and unprecedented move for the Arab world, Qatar has officially submitted its bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. This makes Qatar the first Arab and Middle Eastern nation to seek the honour of organising the world's largest sporting event. The announcement follows recent discussions between the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and stands as a powerful testament to Qatar's confidence in its organisational capabilities and its extensive experience in hosting major global sports events. This bold step is seen as a natural extension of Qatar's longstanding sports legacy, which culminated in the successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup 2022—widely praised for its innovation, infrastructure, and fan experience. Qatar has also hosted other landmark competitions such as the World Athletics Championships and the FINA World Swimming Championships, steadily reinforcing its status as a premier global sporting destination. The momentum behind Qatar's Olympic bid is further amplified by the candidacy of President of the Qatar Olympic Committee His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani for the presidency of the Olympic Council of Asia, declared on July 16. This strategic move reflects Qatar's commitment to broadening its influence in the regional and international sports arena and playing a pivotal role in advancing unity and excellence in Asian sports. To explore the deeper significance of this historic Olympic bid, Qatar Tribune sought exclusive commentary from regional and international experts, including Qatari sports analyst Suleiman Al Marri, Iraqi sports commentator Laith Al Qaisi, and Canada-based sports writer Dr. Anas Ziad. Their insights shed light on the strategic, social, and geopolitical dimensions of Qatar's bold move. Qatar is ready, technically and philosophically: Suleiman Al Marri Speaking to Qatar Tribune, Qatari sports photographer Suleiman Al Marri emphasised that the Olympic bid reflects far more than symbolic ambition. 'Qatar's bid to host the 2036 Olympics is not a ceremonial gesture. It's a statement of readiness—not just in terms of infrastructure, but in terms of a comprehensive national vision that places sports at the heart of human and social development,' he said. Al Marri pointed to Qatar's proven ability to manage complex global events, citing the 2022 FIFA World Cup as a benchmark. He said, 'Qatar introduced new standards in organisation, innovation, and technological integration. From stadiums to transportation and logistics, every element was delivered at a world-class level. The Olympic bid is the next step in that evolution, one defined by leadership and ambition.' Addressing the level of national support, Al Marri highlighted the alignment between public enthusiasm and governmental strategy, saying: 'Qatar doesn't view sports as merely a source of medals and flags. Sports are a strategic tool for enhancing public health, strengthening social cohesion, and unlocking economic, touristic, and investment opportunities. This aligns perfectly with the Qatar National Vision 2030.' He underscored the importance of international alliances. 'The Qatar Olympic Committee has built strong global relationships. Qatar's sports diplomacy is a model in itself. I'm confident the IOC will recognise this bid as a holistic and human-centred proposal for the Olympics of the future.' Laith Al Qaisi: This is a defining moment, led by a visionary sports leadership For Iraqi sports analyst Laith Al Qaisi, the timing of Qatar's Olympic bid is tactically brilliant. He said, 'This is a perfect moment. Qatar is riding a wave of athletic momentum, and there is a growing global awareness that non-traditional hosts can deliver spectacular global events. Doha has evolved into not just a sports capital of the region, but a global hub for sporting and cultural dialogue.' Al Qaisi sees a strategic synergy between Qatar's Olympic bid and the candidacy of Sheikh Joaan for the Asian Olympic Council. 'His Excellency Sheikh Joaan is not just a senior official—he is one of the most influential architects of Qatar's sports development. His leadership of the QOC has been transformative, and his consensual style makes him a natural candidate. Should he be elected, Qatar's regional influence in sports will be significantly strengthened,' he opined. What sets the Qatari model apart, he argues, is its dual focus on infrastructure and human capital, saying: 'Qatar has quietly built a professional sporting ecosystem. From Aspire Academy to the world-renowned Aspetar hospital, and through strategic partnerships with international federations, Qatar has created an administrative and developmental model worth showcasing.' Al Qaisi emphasised the regional implications of the bid. 'This is not just about Qatar—it's a bid on behalf of the Arab world. Hosting the Olympics would present the region as a place of innovation, peace, and global cooperation through sport,' he added. Qatar's bid challenges Western centralism: Dr. Anas Ziad From a geopolitical perspective, Dr. Anas Ziad, a sports writer for Canada Press, views Qatar's bid as a moment of global transformation. He said, 'This is a turning point in Olympic history. Qatar's candidacy isn't just about entering the race—it's about redrawing the Olympic map. Historically, Olympic hosts have been concentrated in the traditional West or select East Asian powers. Qatar is now challenging that pattern.' Dr. Ziad noted that Qatar's bid aligns with broader shifts in the global sporting ecosystem, stressing: 'The IOC today is actively seeking sustainable and impactful models for Olympic hosting. Qatar has demonstrated that it can deliver not only excellence in organisation but also lasting legacies of every event it hosts.' He highlighted the 2022 World Cup as a game-changing reference point, saying: 'The success of the World Cup proved Qatar's ability to shape global narratives—culturally, politically, and logistically. That legacy strengthens the credibility of the Olympic bid.' While acknowledging that competition for the 2036 Games will be fierce, Ziad emphasised Qatar's greatest asset: credibility. 'Qatar's strength lies in its consistent delivery and integrity. If the bid is successful, and I believe its chances are strong, it will mark a historical shift in how we define Olympic identity, linking sport with global peace, inclusion, and equitable development. Qatar has a rare opportunity to lead that transformation—and it seems poised to do so.' A Global Opportunity Rooted in National Vision Qatar's 2036 Olympic bid is more than an aspiration—it's a strategic milestone that encapsulates the country's evolution as a sports, cultural, and diplomatic powerhouse. It reflects Qatar's belief in the unifying power of sport and its ability to serve as a platform for intercultural dialogue, sustainable development, and international cooperation. As the world prepares to evaluate competing bids, Qatar's proposal stands out for its depth, maturity, and clarity of vision. With a legacy of successful mega events and world-class infrastructure, Qatar is not just bidding to host an Olympic Games, it is offering the world a new model for what global sport can mean in the 21st century.
Qatar Tribune
17 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
Sheikh Joaan meets with sports officials on sidelines of World Aquatics
Tribune News Network Singapore H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and Senior Vice President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), on Sunday met with His Royal Highness Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck, President of the Bhutan Olympic Committee, Member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) for South Asia, Seungmin Ryu, President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) and Gordon Tang Yigang, Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia, in separate meetings held on the sidelines of the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. During the meetings, the parties discussed ways to enhance sports cooperation between the Qatar Olympic Committee and its counterparts in Bhutan, South Korea and Cambodia. They also exchanged views on key issues in the Asian sports landscape, particularly in the areas of talent development, athlete support, and the exchange of technical and administrative expertise. The meetings touched on the ongoing preparations for the upcoming Asian Games-Nagoya 2026 and Doha 2030, and the 2029 Asian Youth Games in Cambodia. They explored ways to strengthen cooperation in support of their organization in line with the aspirations of the Asian sporting movement. These meetings come as part of a series of bilateral engagements held by H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani with Olympic Movement leaders across the continent, aimed at enhancing cooperation and the exchange of expertise among National Olympic Committees, and supporting the advancement of Asian sport at both the regional and international levels.
