DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Qatar’s Olympic Committee chairman has appointed himself head of the Gulf nation’s bid for the 2020 Games.
A decree by Sheik Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, posted Monday on official Qatari websites, said he would lead the Olympic effort and named other high-level members of the bid team, including members of the ruling family. Al Thani is also the country’s deputy emir.
Also competing for the 2020 Games are Rome, Madrid, Tokyo, Istanbul and Baku, Azerbaijan. Doha is proposing to hold the games in September and October to avoid the blistering summer heat in the Gulf.
Qatar already has been awarded the 2022 World Cup.
The 2020 Olympic host city will be selected in September 2013.
