2029 Asian Winter Games in Saudi Arabia postponed

The 2029 Asian Winter Games in Saudi Arabia have been postponed indefinitely.

A statement on Saturday from the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) said the event will be held at a "later date to be announced in due course".

No official reason has been given for the postponement but Singapore publication The Straits Times, external has reported that there has been a delay in the construction of a ski resort. Their reporting also suggests discussions have been held on hosting the competition four years later than planned.

Saudi Arabia was awarded the hosting rights in 2022, with the event set to take place in the planned city of Neom, which is still being constructed.

In August, the OCA reportedly said preparations for the Games were on schedule after South Korea and China emerged as potential replacements.

However, the joint SOPC and OCA statement said an "updated framework" will now see Saudi Arabia host a "series of standalone winters sports events" in the coming years.

It added: "These competitions are designed to promote winter sports, broaden participation, and develop a stronger pipeline of athletes, technical officials, and practitioners, while providing additional preparation time to support wider regional representation at future Asian winter events.

"Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its commitment to advancing sport across all disciplines, including winter sports, through continued investment in athlete development pathways, infrastructure enhancement, and the hosting of international-standard ice-based competitions, as part of its wider national development agenda."

The 2029 Asian Winter Games was set to be the 10th edition of the event, with previous hosts including China, Japan and Kazakhstan.

The 2034 men's football World Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia, with Neom - in the north west of the country - one of the planned venues.