Neom
NOS Sport•
Snow, ice and koek-en-zopie. They are terms that are not easily associated with Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, the country has been assigned the organization of the Asian Winter Games.
The tournament is to take place in 2029 in a yet-to-be-built ski resort in the northwest of the wealthy oil state. The resort will be part of the approximately 500 billion euros Neom project, which was started at the intercession of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The Neom project involves the construction of a completely new, modern city on the coast of the Red Sea. It is intended, among other things, to attract more tourists and investors.
Lake and nature reserve
Although temperatures in large parts of Saudi Arabia rarely drop below ten degrees, it can indeed freeze in winter in the northwest. The organization nevertheless assumes that artificial snow will be needed during the Games.
AFP
The resort must run on renewable energy. There will be outdoor ski slopes, a large freshwater lake, wellness facilities and a nature reserve.
More and more host
The Asian Winter Games were first held in 1986. The program is largely similar to that of the Winter Olympics. For example, there is room for alpine skiing, ice hockey and ice skating.
It is the first time that the tournament will be held in Saudi Arabia. Under the leadership of the controversial Bin Salman, the country increasingly organizes major international sporting events, such as a Formula 1 race in Jeddah.
