Qatar officially bids for 2036 Summer Olympics
On 22 July 2025, the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) officially submitted its bid for the 2036 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This confirms the Gulf state's participation in the IOC's ‘Continuous Dialogue’ process for selecting future host cities. These would be the first Olympic Games to be held in an Arab country.
As part of the bid, the QOC announced the members of the national bid committee. It will be chaired by Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee since 2015. His deputy is Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice-President of the Qatar Foundation. Both will use their experience to shape the strategic direction of the bid.
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In an official statement, Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani described the bid as part of a national development strategy. The country would already have 95 percent of the necessary infrastructure in place and sees sport as a ‘tool for promoting social and economic development.’ Qatar has hosted numerous international sporting events in the past, including the 2019 World Athletics Championships, the 2015 World Handball Championships, annual Formula 1 races and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The IOC's ‘continuous dialogue’ process for awarding Olympic Games was introduced by IOC President Thomas Bach and has since been heavily criticised for its lack of transparency. His newly elected successor, Kirsty Coventry, has already announced her intention to reform this process and possibly return to voting.
According to the IOC, there are double-digit numbers of candidates for 2036, including countries such as Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Germany and South Africa. The next Summer Olympic Games will take place in Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane in 2032. (stadiaworld, 29.07.2025)
