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The Qatar Olympic Committee has announced that Doha is to bid to host the 2017 World Athletics Championships.

Doha will be up against London, which is hoping to host the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) event at its 2012 Olympic Stadium, while Istanbul in Turkey and Rome in Italy have also been linked with a bid for the Championships.

The IAAF has set a deadline of 1st September for bids to be submitted, and the host city will be announced in November.

A statement from the Qatar Olympic Committee read "the main platform of the bid is to promote the sport around the world and help the IAAF develop athletics in new regions including the Gulf region, the Middle East and into central Asia."

Qatar, which was awarded the 2022 FIFA World Cup in December, staged the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships and the 2006 Asian Games.

Doha's Khalifa Stadium, which is being renovated ahead of the World Cup in 11 years' time, would be the destination of the 2017 World Championships if Qatar gets the go-ahead. Air conditioning systems are being installed at the venue, but it has been reported that the Qatar Olympic Committee would be keen to discuss the possibility of hosting the IAAF event outside of the summer months.

Beijing is to host the 2015 World Athletics Championships.

3rd December 2010 - QATAR WINS 2022 WORLD CUP BID

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