RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has agreed with the Olympic Council of Asia to postpone the 2029 Asian Winter Games that were scheduled to be held at the NEOM mountain resort the two bodies said in a joint statement on Saturday.
No revised date was announced and no official reason was given for the postponement. The delay marks a setback for the kingdom which has planned to host several major international events as part of its Vision 2030 strategy to diversify the economy beyond oil.
The Asian Winter Games along with the 2034 FIFA World Cup and the 2030 to 2031 Riyadh Expo were seen as key milestones supporting Saudi Arabia’s ambitious development agenda. NEOM the futuristic mega project in northwest Saudi Arabia is expected to house millions of residents but has faced repeated delays.
A source at the Saudi Olympic Committee said negotiations would be held to determine a new date for the games adding that the postponement would allow more time to develop winter sports culture in the country.
The announcement comes as Saudi authorities review large scale projects amid rising development costs. The Winter Games were set to be hosted at Trojena a NEOM resort designed for year round skiing despite the region having no natural snow. The project has faced ongoing questions over feasibility and timelines.
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