Dubai Serious About 2020 Olympics Bid

Although last week it withdrew from hosting the 15th World Swimming Championships in 2013, Dubai remains serious about hosting the 2020 Olympic Games with Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum saying that when Dubai submits a formal bid to host the 2020 Olympic Games, it will be "in it to win it".

Sheikh Mohammed, who is also Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, said that currently there was no bid but feasibility studies were being done to evaluate costs and benefits.

In an interview on the eve of Dubai's hosting of the SportAccord convention, Sheikh Mohammed said "no matter what we decide in terms of a possible bid, this process will be good for Dubai.

It will help us identify the strengths and weaknesses of our transportation systems, our tourism facilities, our sports venues and other vital infrastructure. This learning process will benefit Dubai even if we never bid for the Olympic Games."

In comments published by news agency WAM, Sheikh Mohammed added "we have a lot to offer. Dubai already has a well-developed infrastructure and a good track record of staging international sporting events, although admittedly not on the scale of the Olympic Games.

"But we also have to be realistic. The summer heat can be a serious problem for athletes. We will have to take an honest look at our weaknesses as well as our strengths.

"I can assure you of this, though: If we decide to make a bid for the Olympics, we will be in it to win. We would not take such a step unless we were quite serious about it."

Leaders from the world of sport were gathering in Dubai last week for SportAccord, the world's largest sports convention.

The meeting, held for the first time in the Middle East, brought together members of the International Olympic Committee's powerful executive board, the leaders of international sports federations and top executives from the sports industry.