Dubai 2016 Olympic bid
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Dubai, an internationally prominent city in the United Arab Emirates, has announced that it is interested in bidding for the right to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. Winning the 2016 Olympic bid could increase the speed of Dubai's emergence as a leading world city, as it is already one of the world's fastest growing cities[citation needed].
[edit] Factors For the Bid
Many feel that the recent development of Dubai makes it an ideal city for the 2016 Olympic Games. The construction of the Dubai Sports City and a multitude of new hotels - for example the world-renowned luxurious Burj al-Arab - could be a factor in establishing Dubai as a good location for the Olympics.
Another factor in favour of the Dubai bid is its location - although this is also a major disadvantage (see below). Due to the fact that no country in Latin or South America, Africa, Southern Asia or the Middle East has ever hosted the Olympics (with the exception of the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games), the IOC is eager to grant a city in one of these regions the chance to host the Games.
[edit] Factors Against The Bid
One main concern with the hypothetical Dubai Games is the weather. During the summer, city temperatures can reach 45 degrees Celsius (115 degrees Fahrenheit), a fact that would prove disastrous to competing athletes. However, this could be avoided were the Games to be held in the early Autumn. Also, in terms of sporting history, the United Arab Emirates have had a very small presence of athletes in prior Olympics.
There have been numerous links to terrorism funding being funnelled through Dubai and the UAE. Some feel that the city's Middle Eastern status makes it a prime target for Islamic extremist terrorist attacks, even though the UAE has no great history of terrorism. However, bombings under these circumstances are not entirely unknown (eg. the 2005 Amman Bombings).
Perhaps another factor is that the Summer Games have not been in North America since 1996, causing lower TV ratings for U.S. television rights holder NBC. U.S. television rights are responsible for a large portion of International Olympic Committee funding, and many feel an unspoken agreement exists that at least every fifth Summer Games will be held in North America. This ensures higher U.S. television ratings, and thus more money for the IOC. However the IOC's will for a country from one of the above mentioned regions of the world to host an Olympic Games may outweigh this perhaps rather cynical argument.
