Qatar eyes 2036 Olympics after it hosts Asian Games as F1 confirms Gulf races

Qatar has formally taken over as the next host of the Asian Games as the Gulf country prepares for another major international sporting event, and Formula 1 has confirmed its return to Doha later this year.

The flag of the Olympic Council of Asia was handed over to Qatar at the closing ceremony of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan on Sunday, beginning the four-year countdown to Doha 2030.

Qatar previously staged the Asian Games in 2006.

Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani received the flag on behalf of Qatar from Olympic Council of Asia President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani.

Organisers also unveiled the new Doha 2030 identity and its slogan, “The Games We Live For".

“Receiving the Asian Games Flag in Nagoya is a proud moment for Qatar and an important moment for the wider Asian sporting community,” Qatar Olympic Committee Secretary General Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain said.

“We thank Aichi-Nagoya for its welcome and for the spirit of the successful Games it has shared with athletes and nations across the continent," Al Buenain added.

The handover followed the end of an Asian Games featuring around 11,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions competing across 43 sports.

China topped the medal table with 169 gold medals and 341 medals overall, followed by hosts Japan with 83 golds.

Qatar’s ambitions go beyond 2030. The IOC confirmed on Tuesday that the country is among seven to have expressed interest in hosting the 2036 Olympics, alongside India, South Africa, South Korea, Germany, Hungary and Turkey.

Formula 1 confirms Qatar and Abu Dhabi races

Meanwhile, Formula 1 has confirmed that its final two races of the 2026 season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will go ahead as planned despite continuing tensions in the Middle East.

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said on Saturday that the current schedule remained in place, with the Qatar Grand Prix set for 29 November and the season finale in Abu Dhabi on 6 December.

“Based on the information we have, everything is confirmed for Qatar and Abu Dhabi,” Domenicali told French broadcaster Canal Plus.

The confirmation follows months of uncertainty over the final stages of the F1 calendar.

The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian races were cancelled earlier this season following the outbreak of the Iran war, while the Bahrain Grand Prix was relocated to Malaysia before being staged at Sepang this past weekend due to the ongoing tensions in the Gulf.

A possible alternative had also been discussed that could have seen the Abu Dhabi race moved to Imola in Italy.

Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton said last month that he hoped the season would finish in the Gulf as planned.

“Personally, I want to go. I love going to the Middle East,” the Ferrari driver said, while adding that he trusted Formula 1 to assess the security situation.

Max Verstappen has taken a different view. The four-time F1 champion said last week that while he normally enjoys racing in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, he believed Formula 1 should stay away if the regional conflict posed a risk.

Domenicali said teams and drivers were being kept informed of developments and that, based on the information currently available, both races remain on the calendar.