Hong Kong (AFP) – The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) says 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 $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.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that the OCA asked Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) president Ryu Seung-min if the country would be willing to replace Saudi Arabia.
On Sunday the Kuwait-based OCA said that it was "pleased with the strong progress being made, as we closely monitor the on-schedule work from the LOC (local organising committee).
"We appreciate the bold ambition of the venue and the opportunities it will create as a new winter sports destination serving the future of sport in Asia," the statement added.
South Korea and China have been mooted as potential replacements because they hosted the Winter Olympics in 2018 and 2022 respectively.
China also staged the Asian Winter Games in its northern city of Harbin in February.
Asked about China potentially stepping in for 2029, foreign ministry spokesman Mao Ning said on Friday: "I haven't heard of the situation you mentioned.
"We support Saudi Arabia in hosting the next Asian Winter Games."
Ignorant comment. It snows in Saudi Arabia https://youtu.be/sIn3O0ly1j8
It snows in a lot of places, however that doesnt make it conducive to skiing. I live in a ski town, and it has consistently been 10°c during the day and it has absolutely wrecked the ski season. We are getting almost no natural snow. It is winter 7-8 months of the year here, and that doesnt inherently mean we have enough natural snow to have quality skiing.
Artificial snow is an option, but to have a good ski area requires significant amounts of annual snowfall in order to open all the runs. You can only make so much artificial snow even in ideal conditions. If its too warm then artificial snow isnt even enough
Transfer that concept to Saudi Arabia, where they would be lucky for it to be 10°c at night for more than 2 months of the year. Its not remotely feasible to have a ski area. Even if it naturally snows a little bit. Neom will be based entirely on artificial snow, when its even possible to make it, and that will melt practically as fast as they can put it down.
My comment is not ignorant, although perhaps it was not eliding everything I just conveyed. 3 months ago when I wrote my comment it was 50°c at night, in the area they are building the resort, at the time I wrote the comment. I literally just checked the weather