ALMATY ( WNAM MONITORING): Almaty has officially been selected to host the 2029 Winter Asian Games, marking the return of one of Asia’s multi-sport winter events to Kazakhstan.
The hosting agreement was signed in Milan, Italy, by the President of the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan Gennady Golovkin and the President of the Olympic Council of Asia Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani.
The decision was made following the postponement of the event previously scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia, as the country had originally received hosting rights in 2022. In January, the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia announced that the competition would be deferred indefinitely.
Almaty’s sports and urban infrastructure played a key role in the decision, allowing the city to be considered a venue capable of staging a major international multi-sport event without the need for large-scale additional construction. The use of existing facilities, combined with the city’s prior experience in hosting major competitions, is expected to ensure an efficient and balanced approach to organizing the competition.
Kazakhstan has previously demonstrated its capacity to organize major multi-sport events. The country hosted the Winter Asian Games in 2011, while Almaty staged the Winter Universiade in 2017. For Almaty, the 2029 Games will be the second time it has hosted the Winter Asian Games.
Commenting on the agreement, Golovkin emphasized the strategic importance of hosting major international sporting events.
