Saudi Arabia and Qatar to face off in bid to host the 2030 Asian Games
- Both countries have been criticised for their apparent ‘sportwashing’ strategies in recent years
- Qatar will host the Fifa World Cup in 2022
The council said it received two bids to host its showpiece quadrennial event in 10 years’ time with Hangzhou, China and Nagoya, Japan set to host in 2022 and 2026 respectively.
Doha, capital of Qatar, and Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, submitted official bids to host the 21st Asian Games before the OCA’s April 22 deadline.
A press release from the council said both country’s bid applications were accompanied by letters of support from the city and respective governments.
Doha last hosted the Asian Games in December 2006 but Saudi Arabia has never organised an OCA multi-sport event.
Both countries have been accused of “sportwashing” their human rights records in recent years after hosting a number of high-profile events.
Qatar will host the Fifa World Cup in 2022, while Saudi Arabia has landed a number of high-profile one-off events recently, from world championship boxing fights to star-studded golf tournaments.
A recent Daily Mail article reported there have been 34 migrant worker deaths in relation to World Cup 2022 building projects.
The President of the Olympic Council of Asia, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, said: “The OCA is delighted to receive two strong bids for our Asian Games in 2030.
“It shows the trust and confidence in the Olympic Movement in Asia and further enhances our reputation of hosting world-class sporting events on a major scale.”
The OCA sent a circular to all 45 National Olympic Committees on January 23, 2020, inviting bids for the 21st Asian Games in 2030. The deadline was Wednesday, April 22.
“With these two bids for the 2030 Asian Games we now have stability and continuity in our sports movement for the next decade,” Sheikh Ahmad said.
“This will allow our National Olympic Committees, our administrators and, above all, our athletes to make solid plans for the future in the short term, medium term and long term.
“It puts us in an envious position in terms of our sports calendar and highlights again that Asia is a major partner in the global Olympic movement.”
The host city for the 2030 Asian Games will be selected at the OCA general assembly on November 29, 2020, on the sidelines of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China.
