Dubai Sports Official Says Emirate Could Submit Bid To Host Olympic Games

Dubai "plans to expand its existing sports facilities across the Emirate and eyes submitting a bid to host Olympic Games," according to XINHUA. Dubai Sports Council Sports Development Department Dir Ali Omar said that "submitting a candidature as host city to the international Olympic committee was still on the agenda." He said, "Hosting the Olympics is a dream. We hope to submit such a bid within the next eight years, God willing." Omar said that Qatar "did a good job to win the FIFA World Cup in 2022." Omar: "Qatar's move put professional sports in the whole Gulf Arab region in the focus of the world's attention." With the Dubai Sports City, Dubai "harbors a complete district that provides football and cricket stadiums as well as sports academies on a surface of 50 million square feet" (XINHUA, 8/6).