Qatar has officially confirmed it is in talks to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games, positioning itself to bring the Games to the Middle East for the first time in Olympic history.
The Qatar Olympic Committee announced on Tuesday it is engaged in “ongoing discussions” with the International Olympic Committee as part of the host city election process, with officials claiming the Gulf nation already has 95 per cent of the required sports infrastructure in place.
The bid marks a significant milestone for the wealthy Gulf state, which successfully hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup and seeks to further diversify its energy-reliant economy through major sporting events.
Infrastructure Ready
Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, president of the Qatar Olympic Committee, expressed confidence in the nation’s readiness: “We currently have 95% of the required sports infrastructure in place to host the Games, and we have a comprehensive national plan to ensure 100% readiness of all facilities.
Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani called the official bid “a new milestone in Qatar’s journey”, highlighting the country’s proven track record with international sporting events.
The bid builds on Qatar’s proven track record of successfully hosting major international sporting events, most notably the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022,” Sheikh Mohammed stated.
Youth and Regional Focus
The Qatar Olympic Committee emphasised its desire to “showcase the potential of Arab youth on the global stage”, positioning the bid as a regional achievement that would benefit the entire Middle East.
We have made sport a central pillar of our national strategy, and today, we aspire to elevate that role regionally and globally by presenting a new model—one that reflects the diversity of our region and celebrates its authentic human values,” Sheikh Joaan said.
With a current population of approximately 2.6 million, Qatar would become the smallest nation by population to host either Summer or Winter Olympics, surpassing Finland’s 1952 Games when it had roughly 4 million inhabitants.
New IOC Leadership
The selection process will be overseen by Kirsty Coventry, who made history in March 2025 by becoming the International Olympic Committee’s first female president and first African leader.
Coventry, a 41-year-old former Olympic swimming champion from Zimbabwe, has pledged to involve IOC members more extensively in the selection of host cities, marking a departure from the previous fast-track process that saw Brisbane awarded the 2032 Games.
“I believe we should involve the membership in the selection of the future host,” Coventry stated after her election, announcing a pause and review of the host city selection process in June.
Continental Rotation
The Games traditionally rotate between continents, and with Paris hosting in 2024, Los Angeles in 2028, and Brisbane in 2032, the 2036 edition is widely expected to return to Asia—or potentially Africa for the first time.
Countries are no longer required to make their Olympic bids public under current IOC regulations, adding an element of discretion to the process.
Formidable Competition
Qatar faces stiff competition from several nations, with India emerging as a particularly strong contender. The Indian bid, backed by IOC member Nita Ambani—wife of India’s richest man Mukesh Ambani—has garnered significant political support from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Ahmedabad has been selected as India’s proposed host city, with officials claiming the bid represents “a dream that belongs to 1.4 billion Indians.
Saudi Arabia also looms as a neighbouring challenger, fresh from securing hosting rights for the 2034 FIFA World Cup and investing heavily in sports megaprojects as part of its Vision 2030 diversification strategy.
Brisbane Controversy
Qatar had previously been overlooked for the 2032 Olympics when Thomas Bach’s IOC fast-tracked Brisbane as host under a controversial preferred bidder process that bypassed traditional competition.
The decision sparked criticism about transparency, with several IOC members expressing frustration at being excluded from the selection process—concerns that Coventry has pledged to address.
Other Contenders
The 2036 race has attracted what the IOC describes as “double-digit” interest, with confirmed bids also coming from Indonesia, Turkey, and Chile. South Korea, Hungary, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Canada, and Egypt have all expressed varying degrees of interest.
South Africa is positioning itself for either 2036 or 2040 in an attempt to become the first African host, whilst the UK has discussed a potential London bid for 2040.
Climate Considerations
An Olympics in the Middle East would likely revive debates about suitable timing, following the precedent of the 2022 World Cup being moved from summer to winter to mitigate extreme heat.
The IOC has not set a specific timeline for awarding the 2036 Games, with announcements not expected before Coventry’s first year in office concludes in June 2026.
Financial Implications
Some reports have suggested Qatar officials have already reached out to the IOC about the possibility of an auction-style bidding process, with speculation they would be prepared to open bidding at $10 billion—though this remains unconfirmed.
The Gulf nation’s vast oil resources give it significant financial advantages in any bidding competition, similar to its successful World Cup campaign.
As the process unfolds under Coventry’s new leadership, the 2036 Olympic race promises to be one of the most competitive and closely watched in recent history.
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Rio 2016 – Photo by Agência Brasil Fotografias, licensed under CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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