It’s not difficult to guess which other major international sporting event Qatar has its sights on hosting at the Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum. Opened in the lead-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the spiral access building is encircled by five rings that glow red, green, white, yellow and blue at night.

Attached to Khalifa International Stadium, the museum’s seven galleries begin with a history of sport dating back to the eighth century BCE, complemented by an array of intriguing artifacts.

Sports fans are guaranteed to geek out in the Olympic gallery. Displays include a pair of boxing gloves worn (and signed) by Cassius Clay (later known as Muhammad Ali) during qualifying rounds for the US Olympic team in the lead-up to the 1960 Summer Olympic Games in Rome, where the then-18-year-old heavyweight boxer won gold.

Then there’s the Hall of Athletes, which charts the legacies of 90 athletes who have left an indelible mark on modern sport – from household names like Usain Bolt and Pelé to lesser-known legends like French windsurfer Antoine Albeau and Swiss Paralympic cyclist Heinz Frei.

Donning activewear is recommended for making the most of the final section, the Activation Zone, where visitors are invited to strap on a 3-2-1 wristband and work their way through 18 interactive stations designed to measure their “physical literacy.”

After completing challenges spread across six themed spaces, including the “desert,” where pushing a 4WD out of a faux sand dune is designed to test upper-body strength, participants can swipe their wristband at a kiosk to collect a personalized profile identifying key physical and mental attributes.

The theme continues to the top-floor casual fine-dining restaurant Naua, where Michelin-starred English chef Tom Aikens has developed a healthy gourmet menu. (CNN)