Saudi Arabia’s preparations for Winter Games ‘on schedule’, Olympic Council of Asia says
A report last week said the Saudis are ‘struggling to deliver’ a key facility, considering approaching South Korea, China to take over
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has said that preparations for the 2029 Asian Winter Games in Saudi Arabia are “on schedule” after South Korea and China emerged as potential replacements.
Saudi Arabia is supposed to host the next edition of the regional winter competition in a move derided by environmental groups.
The OCA in 2022 unanimously approved the desert kingdom’s bid to stage the Games at its US$500 billion megacity Neom, part of Saudi Arabia’s splurge on major sporting events, including the 2034 football World Cup.
The futuristic and under-construction Neom will feature a year-round winter sports complex in the mountains of Trojena.
However, the Financial Times last week reported that Saudi Arabia was “struggling to deliver” the ski resort on time and had discussed staging the event four years later than planned.
The Saudis were mulling approaching South Korea and China to instead play host in 2029, the newspaper said.