Doha has never hidden its Olympic ambitions. The capital of Qatar has embarked on the adventure twice, for the Summer Games in 2016 and 2020, but it has never been able to go beyond the status of applicant city. Will she repeat the experience for the 2024 Summer Olympics? The question is on everyone's lips. And the rumors already answer in the affirmative. However, nothing is less certain. FrancsJeux interviewed in Doha one of the most influential figures in Qatari sport, Dahlan Jumaan Al Hamad, president of the Qatar Athletics Federation, vice-president of the IAAF (our photo). His answers leave serious doubt.

FrancsJeux: Will Doha be, for the third time in a row, a candidate for the Summer Games?

Dahlan Jumann Al Hamad: The answer is not mine. It is the responsibility of our government. Of course, I would love for us to try the adventure a third time. If we did it, the sports federations would be very involved. But it is up to the political authorities to take the first step.

What is the trend today?

I have no information on a possible candidacy for the Summer Games in 2024. Perhaps we will go, but today no one has spoken to me about it. I was not asked.

However, you are among the most influential personalities in sport in Qatar.

To date, we at the Qatar Athletics Federation have not been informed of a proposed candidacy for Doha for the Summer Games in 2024.

Doha recently won the organization of the World Athletics Championships in 2019, ahead of Eugene and Barcelona. You were beaten by London for the 2017 edition. This time, what made the difference?

First, I would like to point out that being beaten by London for the 2017 Worlds was not, in my eyes, a defeat. England is a land of athletics. Being ahead of London is not a failure. But we learned a lot from this experience. We understood that we had to be more convincing. We also realized that we needed to prepare and take care of our presentation much better.

Athletics in Qatar has never given much space to women. Could things change thanks to the World Championships in 2019 in Doha?

My federation was the first in Qatar to integrate women. Today we have a women's team. But it is not easy to change the habits and culture of a society. In 2019, at the World Championships in Doha, we will need to present a strong women's team. We are currently working on this with the Ministry of Education. I am not saying that we will have world champions, but the event could help us accelerate the development of women's athletics and sports in Qatar.

You are currently one of the vice-presidents of the IAAF. Between Sebastian Coe and Sergueï Bubka, the two candidates to succeed Lamine Diack, which one do you support?

I will support the one of the two who seems to me to be the most committed to the development of athletics. But they are both excellent candidates. They can both win.