Almaty Appointed as 2029 Asian Winter Games Host

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has officially appointed Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan, as the host of the 10th Asian Winter Games in 2029, replacing the original plans to stage the event in the Saudi Arabian megacity of NEOM.

The decision was formalised during a host city contract signing ceremony in Milan, Italy.

The decision follows a joint confirmation by the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) and the OCA that the kingdom would no longer meet the 2029 deadline.

While the event was originally slated for the futuristic Trojena ski resort, a multi-billion dollar project in the Northwestern Tabuk Province, significant construction delays and a broader review of the NEOM gigaproject rendered the initial timeline unworkable. Reports indicate that the complexity of the “desalination-to-snow” pipeline and the massive man-made lake required for the site failed to meet strict operational thresholds.

Commenting on the announcement, president of the OCA, Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, said: “The signing of the host city contract underscores the OCA’s commitment to advancing winter sports across Asia.”

He described the Games as a vital platform for strengthening cooperation among National Olympic Committees (NOCs), while acknowledging Almaty’s proven track record as a host of the 2011 Asian Winter Games.

For Kazakhstan, the organisation of the 2029 Games represents a return to the global sporting stage. By selecting Almaty, the OCA has prioritised existing venues like the Shymbulak Alpine Resort and Medeu Alpine Ice Arena, which require minimal investment compared to the “from-scratch” construction required in the Saudi desert.

Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, has reframed the postponement as a “strategic deferment.” The updated framework for future hosting will see the kingdom focus on standalone winter sports events to build a base of athletes and technical staff.

This program recalibration allows Riyadh to refocus resources on other Vision 2030 priorities, such as AI infrastructure and luxury tourism, while potentially targeting the 2033 edition once the Trojena infrastructure is operational.

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