Third time’s a charm, so they say. That philosophy is one Qatar hopes to prove true as they apply for their third bid in an attempt to get on the ballot as a possible host nation for the 2024 Olympics. The richest country per capita has already made two unsuccessful attempts to get on the ballot for the 2016 and 2020 and Olympic Games.
Doha, Qatar’s capital city consisting of 2.2 million people, was recently elected to host the 2019 World Championships in Athletics, aka Track and Field’s World Championships. After losing out to London for the 2017 Championships, Doha revised and improved their bid. The revision was good enough to beat out Barcelona, Spain and Eugene, Oregon. According to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), this was the closest vote in the history of the championships.
Eugene was attempting to become the first American city to host the event and would have had to expand the iconic Hayward field for the event. One of the big questions raised has been if Qatar can actually match the crowds that Eugene, the heart of US Track and Field, would draw in.
Another issue surrounding the event is the intense heat produced by Doha’s desert climate, making it too hot to host the event in the summer. Though it’s yet to be confirmed, the event is now scheduled to take place from September 28th until October 6th, where the average daily temperatures will be a much cooler one-hundred degrees Fahrenheit.
This is also a worry in regards to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which is also being held in Doha, and could cause the tournament to be postponed until the winter. Allegations of corruption, such as “buying” the World Cup from FIFA officials for €3 M, sparked debate in regards to Doha being selected as the host city. However, after an investigation by their ethics committee, FIFA reconfirmed Qatar as the host site last week.
The International Olympic Committee recently created a rule making it acceptable for the games to be hosted in winter months versus the typical July/August time slot. Many believe that this will only boost Qatar’s already good chances in obtaining the ballot. Qatar will not be able to escape questions in ethics and corruption, as ethics committees and investigators, such as Michael Garcia, continue to scrutinize FIFA and the country itself. With these pending allegations, the country still remains confident in its chances to host the 2024 Olympic Games. If their dream becomes a reality, the country will be hosting three major world sports tournaments in a six year span. Third time’s a charm, right?