By Nick Butler at the Hotel Sofitel in Manila

Qatar plans to bid for many more sporting events ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup ©Getty ImagesJanuary 19 - Khalil Al Jaber, director of the sports affairs department at the Qatar Olympic Committee, has revealed the country hopes to bid for many more major sporting events in the future.


Al Jaber was reluctant to be too specific but described how the "Qatar Olympic Committee has a strategic plan to host many more international events". 

A bid has recently been launched for the 2017 World Fencing Championships, while, following the 2017 World Athletics Championships being awarded to London, the 2019 edition has been rumoured as a possible event. 

"We are studying this among many other competitions to be hosted in Qatar from now until 2022, when the FIFA World Cup will be here," Al Jaber told insidethegames at the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) General Assembly here.

"We are making decisions to decide what the biggest events in the world are so we can decide what to bid for.

"Last year we held more than 41 international events, and this year it will be around 41 or 43 and we have all the facilities to host many more."

The 2022 FIFA World Cup is the most well known event that Qatar is hosting ©FIFA/Getty ImagesThe 2022 FIFA World Cup is the most well known event that Qatar is hosting ©FIFA/Getty Images

Although the timing of the event has so far been a subject of controversy, it is clear that the Qatar delegation is excited about the prospect of hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2022, even if it is conscious of the work lying ahead. 

Before then World Championships will be held in boxing, handball, cycling, gymnastics and squash.

Al Jaber, who is also the President of the Qatar Swimming Association, outlined events in his sport which will this year include a World Cup event, as well as the short-course World Championships in December.

He predicted 1,000 athletes from 180 countries will attend and highlighted the hosting of a swimming convention, which will encompass lectures for some of the best coaches in the world, alongside the competition.

Al Jaber also sees these events as a major opportunity to bring about competitive improvements for Qatari athletes. 

Mutaz Essa Barshim is one Qatari athlete who has succeeded at the highest of levels ©AFP/Getty ImagesMutaz Essa Barshim is one Qatari athlete who has succeeded at the highest of levels ©AFP/Getty Images

Qatar won two bronze medals at London 2012 - courtesy of skeet shooter Nasser Al-Attiyah and high jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim - to take the nation's all-time medal count to four.

Al Jaber cited Barshim, who also took a silver medal at the 2013 World Athletics Championships, as well as the contingent of African distance runners recruited from other countries, before expressing his hope "these events will help to raise the profile of Qatari athletes as well as everything else". 

"We hope to reach good positions in international events of the future," he added.  

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January 2014: Doha to host 2014 Men's World Squash Championships 
November 2013: Qatar launches bid for 2017 World Fencing Championships