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I came across this article in the Gulf News about how Dubai should strive to host the 2020 Olympic Games.

Hosting such events is a huge undertaking and Naseem Javed argues how Dubai is in perfect position to shoulder any such undertaking. What is certain is that the Middle East has too long been ignored by the sports powers that be when it comes to handing out such contracts.

I can speak from personal experience that Arabs are not only fervent in their support for sports but also are more than just narrow minded in the support for just their team. It is about time that they were rewarded and allowed to participate in the hosting of such events. Indeed, it is a travesty that the Middle East has not even be considered for the two major sporting events – the Olympic Games and the football World Cup.

The 2010 World Cup – rightly or wrongly – went to South Africa, whilst the hotbed of football support in North Africa was largely ignored. Having witnessed last year’s World Cup in North Africa I was left surprised at how much they followed each and every match, and what’s more the camaraderie that it engendered whilst watching all their neighbours compete in the tournament.

The Olympic Games is a different kettle of fish and is seen by many to endorse the super city status of any city awarded the honour of hosting. Giving that status to a Middle East City would be a huge step of the sporting world and one that still seems unlikely. After the security transgressions in 1972 and the 1996 Olympic Games, the organisers ae still keen to play it safe and would largely think twice about giving even the likes of Dubai such a honour.

Yet, I do think it is about time that we began to change that viewpoint and Dubai does seem to be at the forefront at changing that view. Already they host the Dubai World Cup in the sport of Horse Racing and have prestigious tour events in Tennis and Golf. Is the logical next step a big games event? One would hope so!