Lee will be hoping to make it a hat-trick of successes having worked as the communications director on London's successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics and also assisted in Rio de Janeiro's campaign to win the 2016 Games.

In addition, he also worked for Pyeongchang 2018 as earlier this year they were awarded the Winter Olympics and Paralympics having previously bid unsuccessfully twice. 

Lee is also no stranger to working on successful Qatar bid's having been one of the main architects on the country's successful - but controversial - campaign to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Vero will work alongside Andrew Craig, an American-based Briton, who was one of the main consultants during London's 2012 bid. 

The University of Liverpool educated Craig, who has also worked on the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) commercial rights and also did similar work in football for FIFA and UEFA, will be hoping to return to winning ways having last been involved in Annecy's disastrous bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics. 

"We are delighted to have both Vero and Andrew Craig advising and supporting us in what we hope will be an historic campaign," said Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, secretary general of the QOC and vice-president of Doha 2020

"Mike Lee and his Vero team have an unparalleled track record helping cities and nations successfully bid for mega sports events and they know our passion for sport having worked with the QOC and Qatar's successful World Cup bid.

"Allied to Andrew Craig's (pictured) top level expertise in sports marketing and international relations, this is a great combination and a boost to our bid."

Lee worked on Doha's unsuccessful bid to host the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics before switching to Rio after the city controversially failed to make the short-list because the IOC claimed that they could not hold the Games outside the proposed window in July and August.

A similar situation has been avoided on this occasion after the IOC's ruling Executive Board endorsed Doha's plan to hold the 2020 Games in September if they beat rivals Baku, Istanbul, Madrid, Rome and Tokyo.

Doha are ranked the 14/1 outsiders by bookmakers William Hill, although few people involved in the Olympic Movement would rank them at such long odds.

"I am absolutely delighted that we have secured the skills and expertise of both Vero and Andrew Craig," said Noora Al-Mannai, the chief executive of Doha 2020.

"We have already started building our Doha bid team and it is great to have people of genuine credibility in the international business of sport advising our project.

"Our mission is to show the Olympic Family what Qatar and the region has to offer and we will be making further announcements shortly on appointments and how our bid will be structured to deliver that goal."

Lee is looking forward to working for Qatar again.

"This is an exciting time for Qatar and the Middle East and to have the opportunity to play a part in helping to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games to the region for the first time is very special," he said.

"Doha 2020 has made a very strong start with visionary and talented leadership and we are proud to be part of the campaign and team."

Craig was in the Qatari capital last week meeting with bid officials.

"I am honoured to be working with Doha 2020," he said.

"This bid has tremendous potential to deliver something amazing for Qatar, the Middle East and the Olympic Movement.

"As we move forward there will be many opportunities to communicate the vision, plans and genuine legacy of the Doha bid."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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