Dubai 2016 Olympic bid
Encyclopedia
Dubai
, a city in the United Arab Emirates
, announced an interest in bidding for the right to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. Winning the 2016 Olympic
bid could increase the speed of Dubai's emergence as a leading world city.
Ultimately, Dubai did not submit a bid by the September 2007 deadline.
's recent economic and structural development would play in its favor. The construction of the Dubai Sports City
and a multitude of new hotels - such as the Burj al-Arab
- would also boost its chances.
Another factor in favour of the Dubai
bid is its location - although this is also a major disadvantage (see below). Because no country in South America
but Brazil
have won it for 2016 , Africa
, Southern Asia or the Middle East
has ever hosted the Olympics, the International Olympic Committee
is eager to grant a city in one of these regions the chance to host the Games.
bid is the weather. During the summer
, city temperatures can reach 45 degrees Celsius (115 degrees Fahrenheit), a fact that would prove disastrous to competing athletes. However, this could be somewhat improved if the Games were to be held in the early Autumn
. Also, in terms of sporting history, the UAE
have had a very small presence of athletes in prior Olympics, having only ever won one medal.
, Qatar
submitted a bid
, possibly discouraging Dubai. Rio de Janeiro won the bid and will host the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, a city in the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
, announced an interest in bidding for the right to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. Winning the 2016 Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
bid could increase the speed of Dubai's emergence as a leading world city.
Ultimately, Dubai did not submit a bid by the September 2007 deadline.
Factors for the Bid
DubaiDubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
's recent economic and structural development would play in its favor. The construction of the Dubai Sports City
Dubai Sports City
The Dubai Sports City is a $4 billion, mixed-use sports city currently being constructed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The city will consist of apartment buildings as well as several sports facilities. The first structures opened in late 2007...
and a multitude of new hotels - such as the Burj al-Arab
Burj al-Arab
Burj Al Arab is a 5-star luxury hotel located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. At , it is the fourth tallest hotel in the world. Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island out from Jumeirah beach, and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge...
- would also boost its chances.
Another factor in favour of the Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
bid is its location - although this is also a major disadvantage (see below). Because no country in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
but Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
have won it for 2016 , Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Southern Asia or the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
has ever hosted the Olympics, the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
is eager to grant a city in one of these regions the chance to host the Games.
Factors against the Bid
One main concern with the DubaiDubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
bid is the weather. During the summer
Summer
Summer is the warmest of the four temperate seasons, between spring and autumn. At the summer solstice, the days are longest and the nights are shortest, with day-length decreasing as the season progresses after the solstice...
, city temperatures can reach 45 degrees Celsius (115 degrees Fahrenheit), a fact that would prove disastrous to competing athletes. However, this could be somewhat improved if the Games were to be held in the early Autumn
Autumn
Autumn is one of the four temperate seasons. Autumn marks the transition from summer into winter usually in September or March when the arrival of night becomes noticeably earlier....
. Also, in terms of sporting history, the UAE
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
have had a very small presence of athletes in prior Olympics, having only ever won one medal.
Outcome
Dubai ultimately did not submit a bid by the September 2007 deadline. The nearby city of DohaDoha
Doha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar...
, Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
submitted a bid
Doha 2016 Olympic bid
Doha, the capital city of Qatar, bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics. It is the only city in the Arab World other than Cairo, Egypt to mount a serious bid....
, possibly discouraging Dubai. Rio de Janeiro won the bid and will host the 2016 Summer Olympics.