Summer Olympics in Saudi Arabia could be held in the WINTER - with Gulf state considering bid to host the Games in 2036, after being awarded the World Cup
Share:
The favourite to become the next president of the International Olympic Committee has opened the door for a summer Games to be staged in Saudi Arabia in the winter. The Gulf state is considering a bid to host the 2036 Olympics, having just been awarded the World Cup in 2034.
![[Juan Antonio Samaranch, who is favourite to become the next IOC president, has opened the door to the gulf state to stage the Games]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/09/93306905-0-image-a-2_1734601669133.jpg)
And Juan Antonio Samaranch, who is challenging Britain’s Lord Coe to replace IOC boss Thomas Bach, is welcome to the idea of taking the Games to the Middle East for the first time. Asked directly by Mail Sport if he could imagine Saudi as future Olympic hosts, the Spaniard said: ‘If I am true to my claim that universality is the centre piece of what we do, then we cannot close our eyes to the fact that under today’s circumstances there is significant parts of the world’s population that cannot even dream of hosting the Olympic Games.
![[The news comes after Saudia Arabia were awarded the 2034 FIFA World Cup just last week]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/10/93307391-14209413-image-a-13_1734602820818.jpg)
‘That is a significant part of Asia, Middle East, north Africa, southern Europe and a significant part of central America. ‘So we have to make sure that we give the possibility to all these parts of the world to compete in all fairness to organise the Olympic Games.’.
![[If Saudia Arabia host the Games it will be held during the winter due to their summer's extreme climate]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/09/93306947-0-image-a-3_1734601819119.jpg)
Saudi Arabia are currently considering a shock bid to host the summer Olympics in 2036. Juan Antonio Samaranch, who is favourite to become the next IOC president, has opened the door to the gulf state to stage the Games. The news comes after Saudia Arabia were awarded the 2034 FIFA World Cup just last week.
![[Samranach is considered Lord Sebastian Coe’s biggest rival for theposition of IOC president]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/09/93306591-0-image-a-4_1734601829901.jpg)
