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In what could be a big motivational boost for Doha’s bid for the 2024 Olympics, Lord Sebastian Coe has voiced his support for the Games to go to emerging cities of the world.
Coe, the man behind the successful staging of the 2012 London Games, feels it’s high time the Olympic Movement spreads to emerging nations.
“We can no longer have a world where big events are staged only in a few countries. We have to extend the frontiers of sports; we need to spread the Olympic Movement. We can’t just have a situation where only 15 or 20 cities in the world are always going to have that opportunity,” Coe, who was chairman of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, told Gulf Times in an exclusive interview.
The former middle-distance runner, who also played a key role in London’s successful bid for the 2012 Games, said sports, besides other things, could also help in bringing about social change.
“That’s the great thing about sports. It has consistently helped usher in social changes. So, I am very pleased that the World Cup is coming to Qatar. I am very pleased that young people in this region would be getting the opportunity to watch top-class footballers, athletes, tennis players, golfers, motorsports… It’s very important that young people see those role models, and in the next generation we want those young people to become role models themselves. And that can only happen if you encourage emerging countries to bid for big sporting events,” said Coe.
Doha is also likely to bid for the hosting rights of the 2019 World Athletics Championships, and Coe, being the IAAF vice-president, is happy for that.
“We haven’t started the bid process yet, but yes, we would of course welcome any bid from Doha. I feel really happy that Qatar continues to host and bid for big sporting events in this region. I think the biggest thing about this country, and many countries can learn from it, has been its understanding and passion for sports. The country has harnessed the extraordinary power of sports to help in nation-building; it has used sports to create an environment where health and activity are encouraged. I think one reason behind its economic prosperity and its transformation into a global country is because of its understanding of sports. And for me that’s a great thing,” Coe, who is also chairman of British Olympic Association, added.
Coe dismissed concerns in some quarters about Doha’s ability to host events of the magnitude of the football World Cup or the Olympics.
“There are always challenges, but the great thing about sport is that it can play a big role in bringing about a social change. I can already see that happening here. Twenty years back, if I or you had said that Brazil would one day host the Olympic Games, people would have laughed us off. Today, countries like Qatar have the confidence and knowledge to stage big events. The world is changing…”
