Qatar Olympic Committee submits intention to bid for 2030 Asian Games

Apr 23, 2020

With a host of prestigious international events held in Qatar in recent years, the country has evolved into a powerful sporting hub in the region.

Last year, Qatar successfully hosted three major international sporting events, including the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) World Athletics Championships Doha 2019, the first-ever Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) World Beach Games, and the FIFA Club World Cup 2019.

The events, which saw thousands of international sportsmen, athletes, and leading sports professionals come to Qatar, reflect Qatar's prowess in organizing, hosting, and managing world-class sporting events.

Now, to build on its impressive track record, the country has set its eyes on the 2030 Asian Games.

According to Qatar News Agency, Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) has submitted its intention to bid for the 2030 Asian Games.

اللجنة الأولمبية القطرية تعلن عن رغبتها في التقدم بطلب لاستضافة النسخة الـ 21 من دورة الألعاب الآسيوية المقررة عام 2030، حيث تتطلع دولة قطر لمواصلة استضافتها لكبرى البطولات والأحداث الرياضية العالمية.#قنا pic.twitter.com/sN8tVri8Si
— وكالة الأنباء القطرية (@QatarNewsAgency) April 23, 2020

Qatar was the host of the Asian Games in 2006. The mega sporting event stimulated the country's impressive growth and development in the field of sports.

Under His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani's wise leadership, the country was able to expand its sporting portfolio with an extensive list of events and also establish several sports facilities.

"The QOC, with the total support of the Qatar Government, is fully committed to bidding to host the 21st Asian Games. We had the honor of hosting the Asian Games in 2006 and we believe it is time to bid again and welcome Asia back to our country," QOC President HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani commented.

"The Doha of today is very different [from] the Doha of 2006 and the Doha of 2030 will be even more advanced," he added.

بالدعم الكامل من القيادة الرشيدة وتماشياً مع تطلع #قطر لمواصلة استضافة البطولات والأحداث الرياضية العالمية تؤكد اللجنة الأولمبية القطرية رغبتها في تقديم طلب استضافة دورة الألعاب الآسيوية 2030 ..
نمتلك الخبرة والبنية التحتية، ونلتزم بتنظيم هذه الدورة بأعلى المعايير العالمية .. pic.twitter.com/GPzc7qNb19
— جوعان بن حمد (@JoaanBinHamad) April 23, 2020

"We have had the privilege of hosting many prestigious sports events and we humbly believe that we have developed the expertise and infrastructure to be able to host a fantastic Asian Games," HE Sheikh Joaan said, adding, "We want to put our experience and capabilities in the service of Asian sport."

Saudi Arabia will also battle for the hosting rights as one of the bidding nations for the 2030 Asian Games, the Washington Post reports.

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) confirmed receiving the bids from the two nations.

"The OCA is delighted to receive two strong bids for our Asian Games in 2030," the governing body's president, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, said in a statement, according to Reuters.

"It shows the trust and confidence in the Olympic Movement in Asia and further enhances our reputation of hosting world-class sporting events on a major scale," Al Sabah added.

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