Dubai flexing muscle in sports world by hosting gathering of top officials

Dubai hosts largest sports convention

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The Gulf’s growing prominence in the sports world will be on display this week as Dubai hosts more than 1,500 executives and organizers from the Olympics as well as 100 international federations.

The gathering will discuss everything from the funding of sports federations to the shifting geography of the international venues which has resulted in the wealthy Gulf nations luring some of the world’s most prominent golf, tennis and Formula One events.

Nations in the region are setting their sights even higher, with Qatar bidding for the 2022 soccer World Cup and Dubai considering submitting a bid for the 2020 Olympics.