Qatar has officially expressed its intention to host the 2036 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, building on its significant investment in sports infrastructure during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, president of the Qatar Olympic Committee, highlighted the country’s readiness and its commitment to “inclusivity, sustainability and international collaboration.”
Qatar’s successful staging of the World Cup, with 95% of the necessary venues already in place, serves as the foundation for its Olympic ambitions. Sheikh Joaan emphasized that the nation will complete its infrastructure and expand its capabilities to host both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Hosting the Olympics in the Middle East would mark a historic first. While Qatar set the stage by hosting the World Cup, plans are now underway to secure future opportunities as Saudi Arabia prepares to host the 2036 World Cup.
Some observers, however, raise concerns over human rights issues, such as LGBTQ+ restrictions, alcohol bans, labor exploitation, and severe penalties for dissent. Critics compare these concerns to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, despite the International Olympic Committee’s history of prioritizing geopolitics over rights issues.
Qatar’s proposal also focuses heavily on legacy—claiming the Games will deliver long-term social, economic, and environmental benefits. The QOC stated it is in active discussions with the IOC and pursuing a detailed roadmap to readiness.
This would be Qatar’s third Olympic bid, following unsuccessful attempts for the 2016 and 2020 Games. If selected, Qatar will contend with debut bids from countries including Indonesia, Chile, Turkey, and India—while potential returns from Canada, Germany, Italy, and Saudi Arabia may also surface.
Though some rights groups label Qatar’s World Cup preparations as marred by labor abuses and mysterious worker deaths—ranging from the dozens to several hundred—the Qatari government maintains that new laws have addressed past issues and labeled criticism as racist.
