Qatar has expressed interest in bidding to host the 2032 Olympic Games, in what would be the first time a Middle Eastern nation organises the world's biggest sporting event.
The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) on Monday announced it formally submitted its request to join the non-committal "continuous dialogue" to host an edition of the Olympic and Paralympic Games as early as 12 years from now.
Qatar delivered the request via a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.
"Never before has an Olympic Games been held in the Middle East. The Olympic rings are a symbol of peace, unity and hope for people around the world, including the people of our region," a QOC statement quoted President Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani as saying.
"Today's announcement marks the beginning of a meaningful dialogue with the IOC's Future Host Commission to explore our interest further and identify how the Olympic Games can support Qatar's long-term development goals," Al Thani added.
Over the past decade, Qatar has undergone a rapid transformation as part of its National Vision 2030. The country has developed state-of-the-art sporting venues and transportation networks as it prepares to host the FIFA 2022 World Cup.
SOURCE: ALJAZEERA
