The 2029 Asian Winter Games will be held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, as announced by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). This decision comes after the games had initially been scheduled to take place in Neom, Saudi Arabia. The change in venue follows a postponement last month due to delays in the construction of a ski resort in the ambitious Neom project.
OCA president Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani expressed gratitude to the Kazakhstan government and the city of Almaty for their dedication to advancing winter sports in Asia. At a contract signing ceremony in Milan, he recalled the fond memories from the last Asian Winter Games held in Almaty in 2011, highlighting the city’s established ties to winter sports.
Almaty previously hosted the Asian Winter Games in 2011, with events also taking place in the capital, Astana. Despite its historic background in winter sports, Almaty was unsuccessful in its bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, which were awarded to Beijing.
Saudi Arabia’s intentions to host the games were centered around Trojena, a planned year-round ski resort within the broader Neom project. This mega-development aims to create a new city in the country’s western desert, with an investment estimated at $500 billion. However, the inability to meet construction timelines led to the decision to shift the hosting responsibilities to Kazakhstan.
The OCA’s decision marks a significant opportunity for Almaty to showcase its ability to host large-scale winter sports events once again. With the 2026 Winter Olympics set to take place in Milan, the anticipation for the 2029 games continues to build, emphasizing the importance of winter sports in the region’s cultural and athletic landscape.