Qatar aims to be sports mecca

Qatari fans celebrate at Souk Waqif in Doha in this Dec 2, 2010 file photo, after the announcement that Qatar will host the 2022 World Cup. Buoyed by its successful Cup bid, Qatar has begun to indulge a seemingly insatiable desire to host global sporting events. In August, Qatar officially launched a bid to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics. It has submitted a bid for the 2017 World Athletic Championships, and has expressed interest in hosting the start for the 2016 Tour de France. Fadi Al-Assaad / Reuters