In a recent opinion poll in Qatar, conducted by the independent international polling company Ipsos, 86 per cent of people expressed their support for the Doha 2016 Bid.
When asked, 95 per cent of respondents said that they were aware that Qatar was bidding to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016 - and more than 80 per cent of them also said they had an interest in sports and the Olympic Games in general.
More than 1,000 people were interviewed for the poll, which took place in November. Those questioned included both men and women, of all ages from 18 upwards. The survey covered both Qatari citizens as well as proportionate numbers of expatriates working in Qatar.
The vast majority of respondents said they believed that bringing the Olympic and Paralympic Games to Qatar would benefit the country as a whole. More than 75 per cent said that they thought the Games would bring more tourists to Qatar, while almost 60 per cent thought more jobs and more international exposure for Qatar would result from hosting the Games. Other key benefits mentioned included more infrastructure – both sporting and transport – and more hotels being built.
Commenting on the results, Mr. Hassan Ali Bin Ali, Chairman of the Doha 2016 Bid Committee, said: “The results of this poll have shown how the power of peaceful sport can unite our entire country, both native Qataris and expatriates. Recently, at the summit of GCC Heads of State in Doha, we saw how Doha 2016 can unite an entire region, with all the GCC leaders expressing their support and the support of all their citizens for our bid.”
