DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - The Olympic Council of Asia and Saudi Arabia's Olympic Committee have jointly announced the indefinite postponement of the 2029 Asian Winter Games. This event was planned to take place at Trojena, a mountain resort within Saudi Arabia's ambitious NEOM project, which aims to create a futuristic city in the desert region along the Red Sea.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Olympic Council of Asia confirmed that both organizations had come to an agreement on an "updated framework for future hosting" of the games. The postponement will last until a new date is announced, although no specific reason for the delay was provided.
In light of this decision, Saudi Arabia will host a series of standalone winter sports events in the coming years. The statement indicated that the choice to delay the Asian Winter Games was reached after "extensive consultations" between the two organizations. This decision reflects a mutual commitment to the long-term and sustainable development of winter sports both within Saudi Arabia and the wider West Asia region.
The Asian Winter Games were set to be held in Trojena, envisioned as a year-round ski resort, as part of NEOM, which represents a $500 billion investment aimed at constructing a new city. As part of its broader hosting portfolio, Saudi Arabia is also scheduled to host a series of major events that involve substantial infrastructure investments totaling tens of billions of dollars. These include the 2030 World Expo in Riyadh and the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
This series of events aligns with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s ambitious Vision 2030 project, which seeks to modernize Saudi society and its economy, diversify its economic base away from oil dependency, and build a substantial sports hosting portfolio. The initiative primarily relies on substantial financial investments from the Public Investment Fund, which stands as a $900 billion sovereign wealth fund.
However, the postponement of the Asian Winter Games may indicate growing pressure on these ambitious projects, particularly as oil prices trade at approximately $60 per barrel. The declines in global demand have begun to impact the Kingdom's revenue streams.
The decision to award the Asian Winter Games to Saudi Arabia was met with criticism from prominent World Cup skiers and environmental advocates, who raised concerns about the feasibility of hosting a winter sports event in a region characterized by limited water resources and low precipitation levels. These environmental impacts have sparked an ongoing debate regarding the suitability of the chosen location for such an event.
Overall, the indefinite postponement represents a significant development in Saudi Arabia's effort to position itself as a major player in the international sports arena, highlighting the complexities and challenges it faces in realizing its ambitious sporting vision.
