Harbin, China, February 14, 2025: The Director General of the Olympic Council of Asia, Husain Al Musallam, said Asia and the world could look forward to a “unique” Asian Winter Games in Saudi Arabia in 2029.
Speaking at the closing press conference of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China on Friday, February 14, Mr. Al Musallam expressed his deep appreciation to the organising committee and the Chinese Olympic Committee for making Harbin 2025 a big success.
He also said the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping at the opening ceremony on February 7 had encouraged all athletes from a record 34 National Olympic Committees.
Looking ahead to the 10th AWG in Neom, Saudi Arabia in 2029, Mr. Al Musallam said the next hosts had sent a large delegation to Harbin to learn from the Chinese organisers in areas such as volunteers, media, medical services, anti-doping and ceremonies.
“Saudi Arabia are going to utilize all the experience being used here in Harbin, such as the technology, operations and other areas, so I think the Asian Winter Games in Saudi Arabia will be a very unique Games - a Winter Games in the desert,” he said.
At this point, Mr. Al Musallam invited all the media to witness this challenge. “The only continent that can do that, proudly, is Asia,” he added.
Mr. Al Musallam said that every Games had its challenges, and that the preparations by the Saudi Arabia government and Neom province began three years ago.
“Not only the planning started but also the implementation - but they were waiting to learn some experience from Harbin.
“We are looking to support Saudi Arabia to make the next Asian Winter Games one of the best in sport and in the concept of combining the sea and mountains - playing sport in the snow and in ice rinks and then, after their competition, the athletes can go from the mountains, a 45-minute drive, and enjoy the Red Sea – swimming, enjoying the sun, scuba diving, fishing…at the same time.
“This is what we are looking for, with Saudi Arabia, to make something that nobody has done before in terms of combining hosting the Games and the winter sports next to the Red Sea.”
He admitted that when the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee approached the OCA three years ago about hosting a multi-sport event, officials presumed they were talking about the youth games or beach games.
“They said ‘no, winter’. All of us were shocked,” he added. But the detailed plans revealed that, through hosting the Asian Winter Games in 2029, the region can become a winter sports tourist destination.
Mr. Al Musallam said Harbin 2025 had broken several AWG records, including National Olympic Committees in the medal rankings for the first time such as Thailand and Chinese Taipei, and the advanced technology in medical services had outstripped any he had seen previously at Asian Games, Olympic Games and world championships.
OCA Senior Vice President Timothy Fok said Harbin would continue to play a role in the development of winter sports in Asia with its renovated ice venues in Harbin and upgraded ski resorts in Yabuli.
The organising committee announced the following media statistics:
12 billion online clicks
200 million video views
25 million news articles published
Facts and figures from the press conference:
Media
353 from mainland China
176 overseas
35 international
Host broadcast staff, 1,397
Rights-holding broadcasters, 836
