Vero Appointed For Doha 2020 Bid

Vero Communications has been appointed as lead advisors for Doha’s 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games bid by the Qatar Olympic Committee.

The company, set up by Mike Lee, will work alongside Andrew Craig on the bid, who was also one of the main consultants during London’s successful 2012 bid.

Lee worked as the communications director on London’s 2012 bid, and also assisted in Rio de Janeiro’s campaign to win the 2016 Games.

He also worked for Pyeongchang 2018, the city that was recently awarded the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games – having previously bid twice for the event – and was one of the main architects for Qatar’s winning campaign to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, secretary general of the QOC and vice-president of Doha 2020, told media: ‘We are delighted to have both Vero and Andrew Craig advising and supporting us in what we hope will be an historic campaign.’

?’Mike Lee and his Vero team have an unparalleled track record helping cities and nations successfully bid for mega sports events and they know our passion for sport having worked with the QOC and Qatar’s successful World Cup bid.’

‘Allied to Andrew Craig’s top level expertise in sports marketing and international relations, this is a great combination and a boost to our bid.’

Lee worked on Doha’s bid to host the 2016 Games before switching to Rio after the city failed to make the short-list because the IOC claimed that they could not hold the Games outside the proposed window in July and August.??

A repeat result could now be avoided, after the IOC’s ruling Executive Board endorsed Doha’s plan to hold the 2020 Games in September – should they beat rivals Baku, Istanbul, Madrid, Rome and Tokyo.