Doha: Qatar in 'Race' to Host 2020 Olympic Games

Alexis Castelino
Daijiworld Media Network - Doha

Doha, Sep 4: After successfully winning the bid to host the 2022 Football World Cup, Qatar will now compete with Baku, Istanbul, Madrid, Rome and Tokyo for the rights to host the 2020 Olympic Games.

The winner will be announced in September 2013.

Capital city Doha has been given special permission by the International Olympic Committee to make a proposal to stage the games between September 20 and October 20 this year.

"Our bid can inspire peace and is a priority for our youth-dominated region," said Doha's Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani.

"It is fitting that the dream of hosting the Games should come to the Middle East at this time."

Other cities in the fray are

Baku, Azerbaijan
Doha, Qatar
Istanbul, Turkey
Madrid, Spain
Rome, Italy
Tokyo, Japan

Doha's earlier bid for the 2016 Olympics was unsuccessful and eventually won by Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Doha proved unpopular among some IOC executive board members, while others argued that a city with a population of around 500,000 was too small. The bid did not make it to the final list.

Sheikh Al Thani, the Qatari Olympic Committee president, added, "To simply have a chance to enter the bidding process is a step closer to realizing something very special for our nation."

Temperatures in Doha average more than 43 degree celsius from May to September. But there is a precedent of a city shifting the Summer Games outside the traditional July/August schedule - in 2000 the Sydney Olympics were held from September 15 to 1 October.

Qatar will host the 2022 football World Cup and is committed to investing $20bn to $25bn in tourism infrastructure development over the next 11 years.