Harbin, China, January 8, 2026: The President of the Chinese Olympic Committee, Gao Zhidan, has stated that the Harbin 9thAsian Winter Games has set a yardstick for a new chapter to be written in the development of ice and snow sports in China.
Gao Zhidan, who is also the Director of the State General Administration of Sports of China, was speaking at a wrap-up conference for the Harbin AWG on Wednesday, January 7, where everyone involved in the success of the Games – from athletes and volunteers to police and public workers were officially recognised.
“The Harbin 9th Asian Winter Games was the largest and highest level of winter sports competition held by China after the Beijing Winter Olympics. With the largest number of participating countries and regions, and athletes, it was a successful sporting event with Chinese characteristics, Asian flair and splendid diversity,” noted the COC President.
“The Games provided a highly relevant example of practice and success for China’s future preparation of large-scale events. We must earnestly take stock of the experience of the Asian Winter Games, build on the momentum, and strive to write a new chapter in the development of ice and snow sports in China,” Gao Zhidan said.
The Harbin AWG from February 7 – 14, 2025, set a record by welcoming 1,200 athletes from 34 countries and regions, making it the largest edition in terms of participation in the history of the event.
Cambodia and Saudi Arabia made their debut at the AWG which featured 64 events across 11 disciplines and six sports.
China won 32 gold, 27 silver and 26 bronze medals to finish on top of the medal standings.
Gao Zhidan, who was also the president of the Harbin AWG Organising Committee, said the Games’ outstanding success was due to the “cordial care” of Chinese President Xi Jinping, the ‘strong leadership” of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the State Council, and the Heilongjiang Provincial Party Committee.
Also speaking at the conference was Xu Qin, secretary of the provincial party committee, who warmly congratulated all persons actively involved in the Games and said the Harbin Games should be leveraged to develop winter sports in China.
The Governor of Heilongjiang Province Liang Huiling presided over the conference. Also in attendance was the Chairman of the Provincial People's Political Consultative Conference, Lant Shaomin, deputy secretary of the provincial party committee, Liu Hui, and Tong Lixin, deputy director of the State Administration of Sports.
Yu Hongtao, secretary of the provincial party committee and party secretary of Harbin city, read out the recognition decisions of the CPC Central Committee, the provincial government, and the General Administration of Sports and the recognition of the representatives of the Party Central Committee and the provincial administration of sports.