Saudi Arabia Faces Setbacks in Preparing for 2029 Winter Asian Games... "Korea Asked to Step In"

Difficulties in Building Ski Resorts Raise Possibility of Alternative Host
OCA Inquires About Korea's Willingness to Host During Meeting with President Yoo Seungmin

As Saudi Arabia faces challenges in preparing for the 2029 Winter Asian Games, there is growing speculation that Korea could become an alternative host country.

According to Yonhap News, citing a report by the UK’s Financial Times (FT) on the 20th (local time), the Saudi government is considering Korea or China as potential candidates, and it has been confirmed that the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has also inquired about Korea's willingness to host the event.

The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee announced that during the World Aquatics Championships held in Singapore on July 28, President Yoo Seungmin met with OCA Secretary General Husain Al-Musallam, Sheikh Joaan, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, and others.

At this meeting, the OCA reportedly said, "Saudi Arabia is facing difficulties in preparing for the Games," and asked whether Korea would be willing to host the event instead. President Yoo replied, "I will discuss it with the government," and subsequently reported the matter to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The Ministry plans to comprehensively review the potential benefits and feasibility of hosting the international event before making a decision.

Yoo Seungmin, President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, met with the OCA Executive Board during the World Swimming Championships in Singapore in July (center). Korean Sport & Olympic Committee

Saudi Arabia was unanimously selected as the host of the 2029 Winter Asian Games at the OCA General Assembly in October 2022. The event was scheduled to be held at Trojena, a mountain tourism complex within NEOM City, which is a core project of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's "Vision 2030."

Saudi Arabia, which is aiming to transform itself into a sports powerhouse by being selected as the host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup and the Summer Asian Games, had pledged large-scale investment, stating that it would develop Trojena into a world-class winter sports hub.

However, the project has encountered practical difficulties. To produce artificial snow and operate the resort, water must be transported from the sea, which is 200 kilometers away. However, construction of the key seawater desalination facilities has not even begun. The high altitude of Trojena, located at 2,600 meters above sea level, also poses significant challenges for transporting materials and construction work.

While NEOM City officials have stated that "the project is proceeding smoothly according to the long-term plan," there is growing skepticism about whether construction can be completed in time for the 2029 Games.

Amid these circumstances, Korea and China are being mentioned as alternative host candidates. Both countries are regarded as having the necessary infrastructure and operational capabilities, given their successful hosting of the PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, respectively.

However, both governments have reportedly taken a cautious stance, stating that "there have been no direct discussions with Saudi Arabia." Ultimately, the decision on the host of the 2029 Winter Asian Games appears to rest with the final judgment of the OCA.