The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) has confirmed that it is participating in ongoing discussions with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as part of the new, dialogue-based selection process to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Doha.

In an official statement released on July 22, Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, president of the QOC and chair of Qatar’s bid committee, said: “We have made sport a central pillar of our national strategy, and today we aspire to strengthen that role regionally and globally by presenting a new model that reflects the diversity of our region.”

Sheikh Joaan, who recently announced his candidacy for president of the Olympic Council of Asia, added that 95% of the sports infrastructure required to host the Games is already in place, with a comprehensive national plan in place to ensure full readiness.

Doha’s bid, if successful, would mark the first time the Olympic Games are held in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The QOC stated that such a milestone would allow Qatar to deliver a “distinctly Arab Olympic model based on diversity, openness, and a lasting legacy, while demonstrating sport’s power to promote hope and peace.”

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani also welcomed the bid, calling it “a new chapter in the country’s national achievements” and “a testament to Qatar’s advanced standing on the international sporting stage”.

Since Brisbane was awarded the 2032 Games under a revised selection framework, the IOC no longer requires public bidding campaigns. Instead, interested countries now engage in confidential, collaborative discussions with the IOC's Future Host Commission, which assesses long-term visions and alignment with Olympic values before entering a targeted dialogue phase.

Several other countries have expressed interest in hosting the 2036 or 2040 editions of the Games, including India, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, and Hungary. The final decision is expected to be one of the first primary responsibilities for new IOC president Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe, who took office in June 2025.

Qatar has significantly expanded its international sports portfolio over the past two decades, hosting 18 world championships across 12 Olympic sports, including the landmark FIFA World Cup in 2022—the first ever held in the Middle East. Other significant events include the 2015 World Handball Championship, the 2019 World Athletics Championships, the 2024 World Aquatics Championships, the 2025 Table Tennis World Championships, and the upcoming Asian Games in 2030.

Looking ahead, Doha is set to host the World Shooting Championships in 2026 and the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2027.

The bid’s supporting dossier highlights Doha’s proven infrastructure and logistical capacity, including a public transport system that handled over 700,000 daily passengers during the 2022 World Cup, Hamad International Airport’s throughput of 52.7mn passengers last year, and Qatar Airways’ global network connecting the capital to more than 170 destinations.

As the IOC moves to prioritise sustainability, cost-efficiency, and regional rotation, Qatar’s well-developed sporting ecosystem and established hosting record are expected to position Doha as a strong contender for the 2036 Games.