Qatar has submitted a proposal to be the host for the Olympic Games in 2036.

On Tuesday, officials announced that Doha is competing to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games, aiming to bring another significant sports event to the wealthy Gulf nation as part of its efforts to diversify an economy reliant on energy.

Qatar, one of the Gulf's smallest yet richest countries, previously held the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

If selected, it would mark the first time a nation in the Middle East and North Africa has hosted the Olympic Games, according to Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani.

He shared in a statement through the official Qatar News Agency that “the official bid from the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036 signifies a significant step forward for Qatar.”

Sheikh Mohammed went on to emphasize that the bid reflects Qatar's successful history of hosting major global sports events, particularly the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

However, Amnesty International and other human rights organizations have alleged that numerous migrant workers lost their lives before the 2022 tournament, although Doha insists that only 37 workers died in World Cup-related projects and only three due to work-related incidents.

Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, the president of the Qatar Olympic Committee, remarked that Doha has incorporated sports as a vital part of its national strategy.

He stated, “We already have 95 percent of the necessary sports infrastructure ready to host the Games, along with a detailed national plan to guarantee that all facilities are fully prepared.”

Countries are no longer required to make their Olympic bids known to the public.

Traditionally, the Games rotate among continents. With upcoming editions in Europe, North America, and Oceania for 2024, 2028, and 2032, it’s likely that the 2036 Olympic Games may find a home in Asia or Africa for the first time.

The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) new president, Kirsty Coventry, will oversee the selection of the next host for the games, making this her first major task since she took office last month as the organization’s first female leader.