Qatar's beIN Sports wins LA 2028 media rights in buildup to 2036 Olympics bid

"It is understood that beIN has won the rights to broadcast LA 2028 in the Middle East and north Africa (Mena) region, with the contract signed by the International Olympic Committee president, Kirsty Coventry, and the beIN chair, Nasser al-Khelaifi, over the last few days at the Winter Games in Milan Cortina. Khelaifi is not a member of the Qatar Olympic Committee that is running the bid to bring the Games to Doha, while beIN has no formal role in promoting it."

"BeIN acquired Olympic rights in 2015, and last week secured a lastminute deal to show the Winter Games on its streaming platform, TOD. LA 2028 will be shown on all beIN's channels in Mena. Qatar announced last year that it had entered into what the bid rules describe as continuous dialogue with the IOC over hosting 2036 in what is shaping up to be a heavyweight battle with Ahmedabad, the home city of the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi."

beIN secured LA 2028 broadcast rights across the Middle East and north Africa, signed at the Milan Cortina Winter Games by IOC president Kirsty Coventry and beIN chair Nasser al-Khelaifi. Khelaifi is not a member of the Qatar Olympic Committee, and beIN has no formal role in promoting the Doha 2036 bid, though Khelaifi sits on the Qatar Investment Authority board. Qatar entered continuous dialogue with the IOC over hosting 2036 and faces competition from Ahmedabad. Qatar has invested heavily in sporting infrastructure and plans to reuse most World Cup venues, but the bid raises controversy over LGBTQ+ rights and limited women's sport history.

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