Saudi Arabia’s Winter Olympics pioneer Fayik Abdi has hailed the 9th Asian Winter Games in China’s Heilongjiang Province as a milestone for sports diplomacy, sharing his firsthand experience of competing in Yabuli. The alpine skier, who made history as Saudi Arabia’s first Winter Olympian in 2022, emphasized the event’s role in fostering international camaraderie and advancing winter sports in the Gulf region.
Abdi, speaking to CGTN Sports Scene from Yabuli, praised China’s 'world-class' winter sports infrastructure and organizational efforts, noting how the competition allowed Saudi athletes to test their skills ahead of Milan-Cortina 2026. Three Saudi skiers and a men’s curling team participated — signaling the kingdom’s growing ambitions in winter sports ahead of hosting the 2029 Asian Winter Games.
'Having my teammates here made Yabuli feel like home,' said Abdi, who aims to inspire more Saudis to embrace cold-weather sports. Despite not finishing the slalom event, he remains focused on Olympic qualification, stating: 'Every race writes new history for our nation.'
With Saudi Arabia set to become the first West Asian host of the continental winter games, Abdi’s journey reflects broader regional investments in sports tourism and youth engagement. Over 1.2 million Saudi students are now enrolled in winter sports programs, aligning with Vision 2030 diversification goals.
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Saudi flagbearer Fayik Abdi praises 9th Asian Winter Games in China
cgtn.com
