Saudi Arabia’s NEOM could emerge as a surprise host of the Winter Olympics, according to the UK’s Independent newspaper.
Following Qatar’s successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup and amid repeated bids from within the region for the Summer Olympics to be held in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia has been named as a potential host for the Winter Olympic games.
The links emerge as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) struggles to find a host willing and able to host future events.
Saudi Arabia to host Winter Olympics?
Few cities have the funds and infrastructure to host the Winter Olympics. Investigations revealed the cost of Beijing hosting the Winter Olympics in 2022 topped $38bn.
Saudi Arabia, which has made no secret of its hopes to host a FIFA World Cup in the near future, could step in and fill the void.
The Independent report states: “While the climate on the Arabian peninsula would seem ill-suited to a Winter Olympics, Saudi Arabia last year announced that it will host the 2029 Asian Winter Games at a planned mountain resort in the Gulf Arab state’s $500bn Neom project.
“The Trojena development is expected to be completed in 2026 and will offer outdoor skiing”.
Saudi Arabia announced it would host the 2029 Asian Winter Games in October last year.
The Kingdom, which is the first nation in western Asia to host the games, will see participation from over 32 countries.
The games will take place at the Trojena resort, which will be located at Saudi’s highest mountain range, and is part of its $500 billion NEOM smart city project.
While unveiling the tournament, the Kingdom’s sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki said: “With the unlimited support by the Saudi leadership and HRH Crown Prince to the sport sector, we are proud to announce we have won the bid to host AWG TROJENA2029 as the first country in west Asia which will continue to place the kingdom as one of the leading countries in sport”.
No official bid has been made from the Kingdom to host the Winter Olympics.
The IOC, the organisation responsible for both the Summer and Winter Olympics, has delayed the decision to host the 2030 event until next year. Salt Lake City in the US and Japan’s Sapporo are the only cities to have so far lodged a confirmed bid.
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