Almaty to host 2029 Asian Winter Games – official statement

Tengrinews.kz – The 2029 Asian Winter Games will be held in Almaty, citing the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan.
Almaty has been named the host city of the 10th Asian Winter Games. The corresponding document was signed in Milan (Italy) by President of the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan Gennady Golovkin and President of the Olympic Council of Asia, Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani.

It is noted that Almaty will use already existing venues, and the city’s experience in hosting major sporting events will ensure a rational and well-balanced approach to organizing the Games.

“Hosting large-scale international competitions, including the Asian Games, is of strategic importance for the country. It demonstrates the high level of trust from the international sports community and recognizes Kazakhstan’s potential and readiness to host tournaments of such a high level. Holding the 2029 Asian Winter Games in Almaty will give an additional boost to the development of winter Olympic sports.
For us, this challenge is an opportunity to prove, in practice, the country’s organizational capability, relying on accumulated experience and already functioning sports and urban infrastructure that does not require the construction of new facilities. It is a great honor for Kazakhstan to once again host the Winter Asian Games,” said Gennady Golovkin.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports also noted that Kazakhstan already has the necessary facilities for the competitions, which remained after the 2011 Asian Winter Games. They are currently used for training athletes, holding championships, and promoting a healthy lifestyle.
The ministry recalled that in 2017 Kazakhstan hosted the Winter Universiade, which also added experience in organizing other major multisport events. In addition, the country holds international winter sports competitions every year, confirming its readiness to host high-level events.

“It is planned that the upcoming Winter Asian Games will be held using the existing infrastructure. Thus, their organization will not require the construction of additional large sports venues. The available sports complexes allow competitions to be held in all disciplines included in the Winter Asian Games programme,” the ministry noted.

2011 Asian Winter Games
Let us recall that Kazakhstan has already hosted the 7th Winter Asian Games in 2011 – the competitions were held in Astana, Almaty and Almaty region.
A total of 69 medal events were contested in 11 sports. First place in the overall medal standings went to Kazakhstan, which won 70 medals (32 gold, 21 silver and 17 bronze). Second place went to Japan with 54 medals. Third place went to South Korea with 38 medals.
The opening ceremony took place on 30 January in the capital, and the closing ceremony was held on 6 February in Almaty.
Why it didn’t work out for Saudi Arabia
It was originally planned that the 10th Winter Asian Games would be held in 2029 in Saudi Arabia – a country with an average annual air temperature ranging from +23°C to +30°C.
For the winter competitions in Saudi Arabia, it was planned to build grand indoor facilities in the futuristic city of Neom, where the necessary winter air temperature could be maintained.
It was expected that it would be possible to organize the competitions already in 2029, but the builders of the futuristic city needed more time.

“The Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia have agreed on an updated framework for future hosting of the Asian Winter Games, confirming the postponement of the 2029 edition to a later date to be announced in due course,” said the official joint statement of the Olympic Council of Asia and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee.

Currently, 13 winter Olympic sports are actively developing in Kazakhstan. In order to improve the training level of national team athletes, 13 world-class foreign consultant coaches from the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, Romania, Russia, Belarus, Bulgaria, and Slovenia have been recruited on the instruction of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.