
Qatar confirms talks over hosting 2036 Olympic Games
The country, which hosted Fifa World Cup in 2022 and the Asian Cup in 2024, is the latest to join the race to stage the 2036 Games after confirmed bids from Indonesia, Turkey, India and Chile.
Other Asian countries considering a bid include Saudi Arabia and South Korea. Egypt, Hungary, Italy, Germany, Denmark and Canada have also shown interest.
"We currently have 95% of the required sports infrastructure in place to host the Games, and we have a comprehensive national plan to ensure 100% readiness of all facilities," Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, the president of QOC, told the state-run Qatar News Agency.
"This plan is rooted in a long-term vision aimed at building a socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable legacy."
Qatar's capital Doha is set to host the Asian Games in 2030, having staged the event in 2006.
A successful bid would make Qatar the first country in the Middle East to host the Olympics amid the region's growing influence over major sporting events. Saudi Arabia is set to hold the Fifa World Cup in 2034.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Khaleej Times
2 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Asia Cup in UAE 'reminder of cricket's power to build bridges', says ACC President
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) announced on Saturday that the ACC Men's T20 Asia Cup 2025 will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 9 to 28 September 2025. The tournament will bring together the continent's top teams in a celebration of Asian cricket, culminating in what promises to be an unforgettable sporting spectacle, according to a release from ACC. ACC President Mohsin Naqvi stated, "Hosting the ACC Men's T20 Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE allows fans from across Asia to come together in a setting that mirrors our region's incredible diversity. When crowds gather to witness the tournament's unforgettable clashes, it will be a great reminder of cricket's power to build bridges." The ACC Men's T20 Asia Cup 2025 will feature 8 participating teams, up from the previous 6, providing a larger competitive platform to emerging cricketing nations. "The ACC Men's T20 Asia Cup is the marquee event of Asian cricket, and we are proud to present an expanded platform this year," Naqvi added, "This year marks yet another milestone in ACC's journey and a noteworthy development for cricket in Asia. With the inclusion of additional teams in the tournament, we are witnessing the game's boundaries expand, both geographically and competitively. This will be the Asia Cup at its finest." The tournament opener is placed between Afghanistan and Hong Kong on September 9. India will kick off their campaign against UAE on September 10, while the high-voltage game against Pakistan is scheduled for the 14th. India will play their final group stage fixture against Oman on September 19. After the group stage, the tournament will proceed to the Super 4, where the top two teams from each group will qualify. The final is scheduled on September 28.


Khaleej Times
5 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
I can promise to be a different fighter: Mohammad Yahya
Mohammad Yahya is preparing for what could be the most defining moment of his fighting career as the Emirati fighter eyes his first win in UFC. On July 26, inside Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena, Yahya will enter the Octagon for his third UFC appearance. But more than another fight, this bout marks a reckoning. For Yahya, the first and only Emirati to compete in the UFC, the matchup against American striker Steven Nguyen is a chance to validate 16 years of blood, sweat, and perseverance. "I have nothing to lose anymore," Yahya tells Khaleej Times. "This fight, it's about proving to myself that I belong here. The other fights were just setbacks." It has been a difficult road so far in the world's premier MMA promotion. Yahya made his UFC debut in October 2023 at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, facing off against Trevor Peek. That night, the pressure of a sold-out UFC pay-per-view card, heightened expectations, and debut nerves weighed heavily. He lost by unanimous decision. His second fight, in August 2024, ended even more painfully: a first-round TKO loss after he fractured his shin while checking a kick in the first 30 seconds. "I couldn't move in my last fight," he explains. "I checked one of his kicks early and fractured my shinbone. Since then, I've just been focused on improving my footwork and training." That injury set the tone for a year-long rebuild. Yahya didn't just heal. He evolved. He switched divisions, moving from lightweight to featherweight, and brought on new coaches. Most notably, he added a Dagestani coach to his corner, someone from the camps of legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov. "Training with someone from Khabib's team has brought a new layer of strategy and discipline," Yahya says. "I feel a lot faster, leaner, and honestly, stronger. I was carrying dead weight before. This feels like the division I'm meant to be in." Yahya sounds like someone who's endured enough doubt and pain to finally arrive with self-belief. And yet, as he prepares for Steven Nguyen, he acknowledges the stakes have never been higher. Another loss could mean the end of his UFC tenure. But the pressure that once rattled him no longer looms. This shift in mindset marks a turning point. But it isn't just about personal redemption. As the sole Emirati in the UFC, Yahya is a torchbearer for a generation of local fighters. His journey from teenage hopeful to international competitor reflects the evolution of MMA in the UAE, from nonexistent to world-class. "When I started at 14, there were no MMA events here. No gyms. Nothing," he recalls. "But now? Abu Dhabi hosts the biggest UFC cards, supports amateur and youth development, and our rulers have invested so much in the sport. It's become the hub for MMA in the region." He beams when speaking about the UAE's growing fight culture; multiple octagons at youth events, international jiu-jitsu tournaments, and local promotions feeding into global organisations. For Yahya, this isn't just his fight. It's his country's, too. "Raising the UAE flag in the UFC has always been my dream," he says. "Winning in my homeland means everything to me." That sense of duty is both a burden and a gift. Yahya receives messages from young Emirati fans who see him as a symbol of hope. Many were heartbroken after his previous defeats. And their disappointment cuts deep. "Some of the messages made me sad that I didn't win," he says. 'That I didn't get the win for them and give them the outcome they wanted after all their support. But hopefully this time I'll make up to everyone." That chance will come against Steven Nguyen, a skilled striker and newcomer. Yahya respects the challenge. Both fighters will be fighting for their first win in the UFC. "This is the UFC. Everyone here is the best, or else they wouldn't be in this organisation. I'm not taking him lightly," he says. "But I'm very confident in my skills and that I'll out with the W." When asked what reward he's planned for himself after the fight, his answer is humble: another training camp. "I'm thinking of going to Thailand," he says. "Enjoy the beaches there, but it will be a training camp holiday." As the conversation winds down, we ask him what message he wants to send to the fans who will watch him on July 26. His response is clear: "I can promise to be a different athlete. Different Person. Different fighter. This is going to be my best performance ever. I've been working hard and ticking all the boxes. So I have no excuse not to win. The rest is up to God, Inshallah.'


Khaleej Times
7 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE to host T20 Asia Cup tournament from September 9- 28
The United Arab Emirates will host this year's T20 Asia Cup tournament in September, organisers said Saturday, ending the uncertainty over its fate amid spiralling tensions between India and Pakistan. The neighbours have not met on either side's soil in a bilateral series since 2012, and only play each other in international tournaments on neutral grounds as part of a compromise deal. But already-frosty relations took a turn for the worse this year when the two nuclear rivals fought an intense four-day conflict, their worst standoff in decades. More than 70 people were killed in missile, drone and artillery fire on both sides. The conflict was triggered by an April 22 attack on civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir that New Delhi accused Pakistan of backing -- a charge Islamabad denies. The Asia Cup is played under the aegis of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), which is currently headed by Pakistan cricket chief Mohsin Naqvi. "I am delighted to confirm the dates for the ACC Men's Asia Cup 2025 in UAE," said Naqvi on X. "The prestigious tournament will take place from September 9th to 28th." The five full members of the ACC -- Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka -- earned automatic qualification to the tournament. They are to be joined by Hong Kong, Oman and the United Arab Emirates -- the teams that secured their spots by finishing in the top three of the ACC men's Premier Cup. The previous edition of the event was in a 50-over format, but this year's tournament was scheduled as a shorter-format event in preparation for next year's T20 World Cup in India. India and Pakistan have fought three full-fledged wars since being carved out of the subcontinent's partition in 1947 and that rivalry is often reflected on the cricket field.