Saudi Gazette report

HARBIN, CHINA — Saudi Arabia has officially received the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) flag, signaling the countdown to the 10th Asian Winter Games in Neom 2029, the first of its kind to be held in West Asia.

The handover ceremony took place during the closing event of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, attended by Chinese Premier Li Qiang and a distinguished gathering of global sports leaders and officials from 45 Asian nations.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Saudi Minister of Sports and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, accepted the OCA flag from OCA Vice President Timothy Fok, waving it before the audience as Saudi Arabia prepares to host this historic winter sports event.

During the ceremony, the official emblem for NEOM 2029 was also unveiled, inspired by the majestic mountains of Trojena, symbolizing strength and ambition.

The emblem’s dynamic forms reflect the energy of winter sports, while the distinctive “A” shape represents both the Asian Winter Games and Neom’s vision of the future.

In a press statement, Prince Abdulaziz welcomed all Asian nations to NEOM 2029, vowing to deliver an exceptional edition of the games.

"Saudi Arabia is undergoing a major transformation in the sports sector, thanks to the guidance and unwavering support of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman," he stated. "This has positioned the Kingdom as a preferred destination for hosting major global and continental sports events."

He also expressed gratitude to OCA President Raja Randhir Singh and all Asian nations for their confidence in Saudi Arabia’s ability to successfully host the landmark event, reinforcing its status as a premier global and regional sports hub.

The Trojena mountains in NEOM will serve as the centerpiece of the games, featuring a purpose-built winter sports complex for events such as giant slalom skiing, snowboarding, and alpine racing.

The facility will also include an ice sports arena for competitions like ice hockey, figure skating, and curling.

The 2029 Asian Winter Games will feature 47 events, including 28 snow-based and 19 ice-based competitions.

Trojena’s futuristic development will offer a single Asian Games Village, surrounded by 14 luxury hotels, all powered by 100% renewable energy.

The region’s unique year-round climate, with sub-zero temperatures in winter, makes it an ideal winter sports destination in contrast to the surrounding desert environment.