Dubai to host 2020 Olympics?

Is there a possibility for a Dubai 2020 Olympics?

It has been a good week for UAE sport with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the new Yas Marina circuit being an unqualified success. Now, Dubai is aiming to make history by becoming the first city in the Middle East to host the 2020 Olympic Games.

The first meeting of Dubai's 2020 team is taking place today, with the talks to be chaired by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai's Crown Prince. According to Arabian Business, the meeting will revolve around plans to bring the Olympic Games to Dubai for 2020 as well the World Expo in the same year.

It is the latest initiative of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum's 'Dubai 2020' plan that will "focus a number of sectors within the UAE around the common goal of furthering social and economic progress for the region".

"Something spectacular and meaningful"

Speaking in June, the ruler of Dubai and UAE prime minister said, "Bringing together these two world events in one place - each for the first time in the Middle East - would be a unique proposition, uniting business, science and technology with sport, education and culture."

"For this we need a clear, common goal that highlights shared universal human values. The Dubai 2020 initiative will look at how we can shape our environment and society for future generations. It will address, in an integrated way, the building blocks that underpin social and economic progress - sport, education, culture, business, science, technology, health and the environment.

"These two global events - the Olympic Games and World Expo - give us a sense of common purpose and play to our strengths. Dubai is already home to people from different nationalities and cultures who live in friendship and peace. And I believe we can deepen this respect and mutual understanding if we work together to achieve something spectacular and meaningful."

Other cities aiming to win the bid for the 2020 Olympics include Japan's Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Delhi, Istanbul and Budapest. London will be holding the 2012 Olympics.

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