Doha 2020 Olympic bid team want the Games held in October

The Gulf nation could send four women to compete this summer.

Qatar's national swimmer Nada Mohammed Wafa Arkaji spoke at the news conference in Doha yesterday.

Leaders of Doha's bid for the 2020 Olympics are proposing to hold the games in October to avoid the searing summer heat in Qatar.

The Doha bid calls for the Olympics to be held from October 2 to 18 and the Paralympics from November 4 to 15.

The dates were disclosed yesterday as organisers released details of the bid file that was submitted last week to the International Olympic Committee. A statement from organisers says the October dates would "ensure ideal conditions" for athletes and spectators.

Doha is competing against Madrid, Tokyo, Istanbul and Baku, Azerbaijan.

Qatar, which will host the 2022 football World Cup, has tried to ease fears about the heat by promising air-conditioned stadiums and other areas.

The Gulf nation also announced yesterday that it will send women athletes to the Olympics for the first time at this year's London Games.

Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the general secretary of the Qatar Olympic Committee, said the IOC has offered the country wild card invitations for two female athletes to compete in London - the swimmer Nada Arkaji and the sprinter Noor Al Malki.

Sheikh Saoud said the number of female entrants from Qatar could rise to four.

Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Brunei have never sent women athletes to an Olympics.