by Alfonz Juck
Khalifa Stadium, Doha, Qatar, photo by worldstadiums.com
I was in Doha, Qatar for the 2019 World Championships. I have been to Doha a half dozen times. I love the city, and the championships, although hot as hell outside the stadium, were amazingly comfortable in the stadium. While having events in the Middle East can be a huge challenge, the idea of hosting an Olympics/ Paralympics in Qatar makes some sense, in a strange way. Qatar can fund such an event, and the idea of bringing the global village to Doha could have amazing effects on the population. It will be hot, and humid, but you will have life changing air conditioning!
I also see that people will experience the Middle East, which is key to appeciating the world. My nine Summer Olympics have changed how I view the world. I have met life long friends at Olympics. Taking my son, Adam to Athens, changed our lives. Going with my brother, Brian to Rio was a time that made us closer.
I beIieve in the power of the Olympics.
I believe that China is still seeing the benefits of the Olympics, by that I mean the interchange of ideas with peoples from 220 other countries. The change in China began in Beijing 2008, and it will continue, and does continue, perhaps, not in the way the govenment wanted, but in a profound way, and a personal way.
DOHA (QAT): The Qatar Olympic Committee has announced its interest in hosting an Olympic and Paralympics as early as 2032. It confirmed it had formally requested to join the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) non-committal “continuous dialogue” about hosting the Games. In doing so, Qatar joins Australia, India, Indonesia and Germany in expressing an interest to bid for the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics. Informs insidethegames.
