Doha mulling 2020 Games bid - Asian chief

Thursday, 14 July 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

(Reuters) - Qatar is interested in hosting the 2020 summer Games, Olympic Council of Asia President Sheik Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah said on Wednesday.

With less than two months before the deadline for applications only Rome has been officially confirmed, with Spain’s Madrid unveiling yet another bid on Wednesday that still needs to be rubberstamped by city legislators in a week.

“I hear Doha have interest,” Sheikh Ahmad told Japan’s Kyodo news agency. “This is what I’m hearing, but we don’t have anything officially announced yet.”

The tiny Gulf emirate won the right to host the 2022 soccer World Cup last December but have been forced to issue several statements denying allegations of corruption associated with their surprise winning bid.

Tokyo and Istanbul are also considering a run for the 2020 Games.