Qatar's bid to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games is about more than adding another major event to the country’s impressive hosting record. It is an opportunity to show how far Qatar’s sporting capabilities have developed and what the country can offer to the Olympic Movement.
That is the message emerging from CEO of Qatar’s 2036 Olympic and Paralympic bid Fatima Sultan Al Kuwari, who recently spoke at Bayt Qatar on the sidelines of the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
Qatar is entering the bid journey with considerable experience behind it. Over the years, the country has hosted continental and international championships across different sports, building expertise in event management and developing sporting venues and infrastructure to international standards. The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 remains an important part of that experience, demonstrating Qatar’s ability to stage one of the world’s largest and most complex sporting events.
That experience gives the 2036 ambition a strong base. Qatar already has stadiums, arenas and sporting complexes that have hosted major competitions, reducing the need for large-scale construction of permanent venues. Sustainability also forms an important part of the vision. The focus is not simply on the period of the Games but on what happens afterwards. Qatar’s experience following the Doha 2006 Asian Games, including the transformation of the Athletes’ Village for healthcare and community use, is an example of how sporting investment can serve wider needs after an event.
Yet venues and infrastructure are only part of the equation. Qatar has also developed national expertise in management, operations, media, transport, security, medical services, technology and volunteering through years of hosting major competitions. That experience, built over many events, is another important element of the bid. There is also a wider regional dimension. Al Kuwari has highlighted the opportunity to bring the Olympic Games to a Middle East that has never hosted them, while opening the event to a region with a rich history, diverse cultures and a strong passion for sport. The Games could also encourage more children and young people to participate in sport and create greater opportunities for women and youth in sporting and leadership roles.
The road to 2036 will be long and demanding, and Qatar recognises that the bid requires extensive planning, coordination and teamwork. But the ambition is clear. Qatar wants to use its experience, infrastructure and people to present a strong vision and create a legacy that extends beyond the competition itself.
