By Duncan Mackay at the SportAccord Convention in Québec City

Doha 2020_tree_signedMay 22 - Doha believe they have done their best to try to ensure that they are included on the shortlist for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics when it is announced here tomorrow, one of the leading members of Qatar's ruling family claimed.


Doha is one of five bidders hoping to be given Candidate City status when the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Executive Board meet to discuss the issue.

But, unlike its rivals Baku, Istanbul, Madrid and Tokyo, Doha is planning to hold the Games outside the normal window in July and August to avoid the incredibly hot temperatures in the Gulf State in those months.

Its proposal to change the dates for the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics led to the IOC cutting it at the first stage four years ago even though technically it scored higher than Rio de Janeiro, who were eventually awarded the Games.

This time the IOC Executive Board have approved the change of dates to October but doubts still persist over whether Doha will advance to the next stage.

But Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani (pictured above), the daughter of the Emir of Qatar and a vice-president of Doha 2020 hopes they have convinced the IOC to give them an opportunity.

"They needed reassurances and we have provided them," she told insidethegames here at SportAccord, where the decision will be made.

"I can understand why they needed them because we are proposing holding the Games at a different time.

"I support the Executive Board in that.

"We have support [for our proposal] from the International Federations, who we have fully engaged with, which proves that athletes would be at the heart of our Games."

Doha's bid could also suffer from the allegations of corruption that tainted Qatar's successful campaign to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Al-Mayassa bint_Hamad_bin_Khalifa_Al-Thani_with_Jacques_Rogge
But Sheikha Al-Mayassa (pictured above with IOC President Jacques Rogge) dismisses the claims, which have never been backed up by any evidence.

"Everything that has been said has no proof," she said.

"Unless we have that proof it is invalid.

"As far as we're concerned they're rumours and unfounded - so we don't care about them."

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