Qatar, the host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, has announced it would also like to stage the Olympics, possibly in 2032.
The Gulf Arab state's Olympic committee says it has submitted a request to the International Olympic Committee to join the phase of "continuous dialogue" about hosting a future Games.
Oil-rich Qatar is increasingly keen to host major sporting events and has already welcomed world athletics championships, though scorching desert temperatures during parts of the year have caused some anxiety in the sports world.
The Olympics have never been hosted in the Middle East and Qatar will be the first nation in the region to host football's biggest showpiece.
It has invested billions of dollars in preparing for the 2022 Football World Cup, but human rights groups have criticised the treatment of migrant workers.
Qatar's Doha had also unsuccessfully bid for the 2016 and 2020 Olympics.
Reuters
