RIYADH — For the first time in history, the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee announced on Monday the Kingdom's participation in the upcoming Asian Winter Games, marking a significant milestone in Saudi sports. Saudi Arabia's delegation will include eight athletes competing in two events. Fayik Abdi, Sharifa Al-Sudairi, and Jude Farhoud will participate in Alpine skiing, while Abdullah Al-Zahrani, Hussein Haqawi, Mohammed Al-Deraan, Munir Al-Balbisi, and Sulaiman Al-Aql will compete in curling. This historic participation comes as Saudi Arabia prepares to host the 10th Asian Winter Games in 2029 in Trojena, NEOM, making it the first West Asian nation to host the event. The Saudi delegation's involvement in the upcoming edition will serve as a critical step in strengthening the Kingdom's position in winter sports ahead of hosting this major continental event. The ninth edition of the Asian Winter Games will conclude with a ceremony in Harbin, China, during which the official flag will be handed over to Saudi Arabia as the next host. Winter sports are relatively new to the Kingdom. The Saudi Winter Sports Federation was established in 2019, later split into two independent entities in 2022: the Saudi Ice Sports Federation and the Saudi Snow Sports Federation. Saudi athletes had previously participated in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, but this will mark their debut in the Asian Winter Games. This participation highlights Saudi Arabia's growing commitment to winter sports development, laying a strong foundation for the successful hosting of the 2029 Games in Trojena.
