<p>DOHA, Qatar — Qatar was still committed Friday to bidding for the 2032 Olympics despite the IOC heading into exclusive talks with top choice Brisbane.</p>
<p>The International Olympic Committee used its new, more flexible bidding process <a href="https://apnews.com/article/australia-thomas-bach-brisbane-2020-tokyo-olympics-queensland-84821cc188179912ba06db06e9577450">last week to name the Australian coastal city</a> its preferred choice more than 11 years before the Games. </p>
<p>That decision seemed to surprise other expected candidates including Qatari capital Doha and Budapest, Hungary.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.olympic.qa/media-center/qatar-olympic-committee-reaffirms-commitment-hosting-olympic-and-paralympic-games">Qatar Olympic Committee on Friday</a> “reiterated its total commitment to maintaining continuous dialogue” with an IOC-appointed panel which can have ongoing talks — and even approach — likely candidates for any future Games.</p>
<p>Doha applied to enter two previous Summer Games bidding contests but did not progress to be accepted on the IOC’s list of candidates.</p>
<p>One factor weighing against Qatar is searing heat in the July-August slot the IOC prefers to hold the Summer Games. Doha hosted the 2019 track and field world championships from late-September into October.</p>
<p>“We have listened and learned from our two previous bids and humbly believe that we are now perfectly positioned to deliver a low-risk, sustainable and world-class edition of the Games,” Qatari Olympic leader Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani said in a statement.</p>
<p>The IOC has given no timetable for a decision to confirm Brisbane or open up the contest. </p>
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