Saudi Arabia will host the Asian Winter Games in 2029 – in a ski resort in the middle of the desert that has not yet been built.
The Asian Olympic Committee has awarded the 2029 Asian Winter Games to Saudi Arabia. The “Trojena” mountain area was awarded the contract on Tuesday (October 4th, 2022) in Phnom Penh/Cambodia. Trojena is part of the futuristic planned city “Neom”, which is to stretch 170 kilometers along the Red Sea. So far, however, only a few buildings of the estimated 500 billion dollar project have been completed. Most of the area is still a barren desert area – including Trojena.
“This is a great victory for the Saudi nation and the entire Gulf region,” Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki Al Faisal said after the bid. 47 competitions are to be held at the event.
Promise of 100 percent renewable energy
Trojena is located 50 kilometers from the coast at an altitude of 1500-2600 meters. Temperatures drop to freezing at times in winter, but the area is bone dry. Trojena would be the first winter sports area on the Arabian Peninsula.
Although all snow competitions must be held on artificial snow, the energy should come from 100 percent renewable sources. However, the water requirement would also be enormous. Trojena is to become a luxurious ski village with family and wellness offers.
Saudia Arabia’s ambitions
The Mega City “The Line”, the heart of the Neom project, will house nine million residents in a 170-kilometer building. With Neom, the strictly autocratic Saudi Arabia wants to compete with cities like Dubai or Doha.
The regime has been criticized for human rights violations and makes intensive efforts to host major sporting events. Among other things, Saudi Arabia organizes a Formula 1 Grand Prix and was awarded the contract for the Asian Games in 2034.
The Asian Winter Games last took place in 2017, since then there have been problems finding a host country. Trojena was the only candidate for the 2029 Games.
Fayik Adbi first Saudi Winter Olympian
Saudi Arabia took part in the Winter Olympics in Beijing for the first time in 2022, alpine skier Fayik Abdi was the only starter and finished 44th in the giant slalom. “I never imagined that I would be able to ski in my home country”, he said on Tuesday.