Sir Craig admitted he expected Doha to bid again for the Olympic Games following the announcement yesterday that the city will host the 2019 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships.

But it is a decision that has proved controversial because of concerns over how foreign workers involved in the construction of many of the facilities being built for the 2022 FIFA World Cup are being treated. 

Qatar is failing to tackle the abuse of migrant workers, a report from Amnesty International published earlier this week claimed.

More than 180 migrant workers died in Qatar last year and a significant number are believed to have suffered injuries as a result of unsafe working practices, it is claimed. 

"They would have to fit the Olympic Charter before they were awarded an Olympic Games," said Sir Craig following the IAAF's decision. 

The Qatari capital beat rivals Barcelona and Eugene to win the right to stage the IAAF's flagship event having lost out to London for the 2017 edition and failed to even make the shortlist for the 2016 and 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, awarded to Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo respectively.

Doha beat Barcelona and Eugene to be awarded the 2019 IAAF World Championships ©IAAF










A key new element of the successful bid has been the shifting of the event away from the traditional staging time of August to early October, when Doha 2019 officials insist temperatures will be lower than they are during the IAAF Diamond League meetings held in May.

Sir Craig said Doha is "perfectly entitled" to bid for the Olympics on similar terms and leave the decision in the IOC's hands.

"Nobody should be under any illusions about their capacity to build the facilities that are necessary for sports events," he said. 

"It wouldn't surprise me if they decided to bid again for the Olympic Games - it's their right.

"I was certainly in favour the last time that, if they bid, they should be allowed to bid at dates that suited them rather than the traditional Olympic dates at the end of July, beginning of August, before the European football season and American football season.

"That window of opportunity in the Northern Hemisphere probably doesn't suit Doha."

Sir Craig was speaking after IOC President Thomas Bach had revealed the 40 proposals that make up Olympic Agenda 2020, the strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement, which will be discussed and voted on by the full IOC membership at the 127th IOC Session on December 8 and 9 in Monaco.

More flexibility in bidding, including joint bids from countries, and the opportunity for host cities to propose sports to feature in the Olympic Games, were among the main themes.

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