Qatar continues to attract powerful sporting events for the period after the current soccer World Cup and thus distinguishes itself for a possible bid for the Olympic Games.
At the beginning of the week, the Arabs, together with the World Automobile Association FIA, announced that the “Six Hours of Doha” would be held as part of the Endurance World Championship from 2024 for at least six years. The premiere of the racing series with the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans as its flagship in the desert state is planned as the opening race of the season after next.
“We want to be number one in motorsport,” said Qatar’s head of tourism, Akbar al-Baker, in the presence of Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdul Aziz Al Thani. WEC boss Frederic Lequien (France) paid tribute to the Lusail International Circuit, which is currently being modernized for the long-term Formula 1 return to the emirate after the debut of the premier class in 2021, as a course that is also suitable for the endurance series: “The circuit will be one be the most attractive in the world.”
The “Six Hours of Doha” has already become known as the second major event in the Gulf State during the World Cup, which runs until Sunday. Last week, Qatar’s capital, Doha, was awarded the 2025 Table Tennis World Championships.
In general, Qatar wants to continue to raise its profile in the world public after the departure of the football elite as host of the sports world. As early as the beginning of 2024, the swimming world championships and the Asian football championship returned by China will take place in the desert. Formula 1 has signed an 11-year deal with Qatar, and in 2030 Qatar will also be the venue for the Asian Games.
In the course of the World Cup, numerous sports policy experts already expressed their expectation that Qatar would bid for the Olympic Games. The earliest possible date for this would be 2036, since the previous three Summer Games have already been awarded to Paris (2024), Los Angeles (2028) and Brisbane (2032).