Bangkok, Thailand, July 8, 2023: Harbin, the capital city of Heilongjiang in China’s northernmost region, will host the 9th Asian Winter Games in 2025.
The 42nd Olympic Council of Asia General Assembly in Bangkok, Thailand unanimously approved the bid presentation made by Harbin, which has a long-standing experience of hosting winter sports events, including the 3rd Asian Winter Games back in 1996.
The last Asian Winter Games was held in Sapporo, Japan in 2017.
The Harbin bid team included Chinese Olympic Committee Vice President and IOC Member Yu Zaiqing, Vice Governor of Heilongjiang Province Han Shengjian, Mayor of Harbin Zhang Qixiang, and Winter Olympic gold medallist speed skater Zhang Hong.
Delegates from 45 National Olympic Committees at the OCA General Assembly heard that Harbin had a long history of hosting major international winter sports Games.
“I’m fully convinced Harbin can deliver an outstanding Asian Winter Games and ensure the development of winter sports in China and the whole of Asia. The Chinese Olympic Committee fully supports Harbin,” noted COC Vice President Yu Zaiqing.
Yu added: “We have excellent winter sports facilities in Harbin which has previously hosted a number of events including the 3rd Asian Winter Games in 1996, the 10th National Winter Games of China in 2003, and the 24th World University Games in 2009.”
Speaking on behalf of athletes, Zhang Hong, winner of a gold medal in the women’s 1,000m speed skating event at the 2014 Sochi Olympics was confident Harbin would provide an excellent stage for athletes to show-off their wares in 2025.
“I’m a native of Harbin and this is a city of Olympic champions. I’m confident that my hometown will provide ideal conditions for athletes to achieve their dreams,” Zhang said.
In her presentation, Zhang revealed 16 sports facilities will be upgraded for the Harbin showpiece in 2025, and that other infrastructure including five-star accommodation, and transport with an international airport was already in place in a city recognised by UNESCO as a Music City.
The Mayor of Harbin Zhang Qixiang and the Vice Governor of Heilongjiang Province also confirmed that both the municipal government and the provincial government, respectively, were committed to the success of the Asian Winter Games in 2025.
The 10th Asian Winter Games will be held in Trojena, Saudi Arabia in 2029.
