Qatar formalises Olympic Games bidding strategy

Qatar has stated that it will decide whether it will bid for the 2024 Olympic Games before the September 15 deadline, with Qatar Olympic Committee chief executive and secretary general, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, stating its future Games bidding strategy is yet to be determined. Earlier this month, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) fired the starting gun on the bid process for the 2024 Games by launching its newly formed ‘invitation phase’. The 2024 summer Games marks the first bid process following the adoption of Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC’s strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement. Interested National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and potential bid cities have been invited to discuss their initial ideas with the IOC and receive various levels of assistance and feedback ahead of the September 15 deadline for officially committing to a bid. Sheikh Saoud added that it was “not a matter of Qatar wanting to bid, it’s a time when Qatar wants to choose to bid.” The country is currently showcasing its major event hosting capabilities through the staging of the men’s Handball World Championships.