EqualOcean reports that on February 14, the 9th edition of the Asian Winter Games came to a successful close in Harbin. During the ceremony, Saudi Arabia took over the flag of the Olympic Council of Asia, officially becoming the host nation for the 2029 Asian Winter Games. This handover not only marks the Games' first expansion from East and Central Asia to the Middle East, but has also sparked global debate about how Saudi Arabia will manage to host winter sports events in the heart of a tropical desert.
While the majority of Saudi Arabia experiences a tropical desert climate, with scorching summer temperatures averaging 45°C and peaking above 50°C, starkly contrasting the wintry, snow-covered settings typically associated with winter sports, the region selected for the 2029 Winter Games—Trojena—offers a unique climate. Located in the northwest of the kingdom at around 2,600 meters above sea level, Trojena experiences winter temperatures as low as -5°C, with a natural snowfall period lasting up to three months, providing the perfect foundation for skiing and other winter sports. "In Saudi Arabia, the terrain and climate vary dramatically, and just a few days ago, snow fell in the northern regions," said Ahmed bin Duwaihi, head of the Saudi delegation.
Although Trojena's snowfall is limited, its western-facing slopes near the sea make it ideal for artificial snowmaking. Saudi Arabia plans to supplement the natural snow with artificial snow and construct indoor ice and snow facilities to meet the requirements for the Games. Last April, a delegation from the Saudi Olympic Committee visited Harbin to study its ice training centers, ice hockey arenas, and other venues, gathering insights on their functional design and sustainable usage.
Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the Asian Winter Games is a key component of its broader economic diversification strategy. Trojena is part of the kingdom’s ambitious "New Future City" (NEOM) project, which is set to receive $500 billion in investment to build a futuristic city combining ecological tourism, sports, and entertainment. The project aims to reduce the country’s reliance on oil by promoting economic diversification. Trojena is poised to become the "Snow City of the Arabian Peninsula," located on a mountain 2,580 meters above sea level, with temperatures typically 10°C lower than those of the surrounding areas. Upon completion, visitors will be able to enjoy winter sports in a desert setting, while also indulging in luxurious resort facilities.
Set for completion by 2026, Trojena's snow town will feature state-of-the-art infrastructure and competition venues, offering new opportunities for the development of winter sports in the Middle East. Timothy Tsun-Ting Fok, the first vice-president of the Olympic Council of Asia, believes that Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the 2029 Asian Winter Games will break the long-standing dominance of East and Central Asia in winter sports, further spreading the reach of these activities. This vision reflects the Olympic Council's message that "snow and ice are shared treasures of all of Asia."
Picture Source:Aedas