Tashkent: The national Olympic committee has officially announced a cooperative agreement with the Saudi Arabian Olympic body, with South Korea emerging as a potential candidate to replace Saudi Arabia as the host for the 2029 Asian Winter Games. This development was revealed during the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) General Assembly held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee (KSOC) finalized a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee on Monday. The agreement outlines plans to expand personnel exchange programs for athletes and coaches, facilitate information sharing on international sports trends, and enhance cooperation in sports science and anti-doping initiatives.
“This MOU will allow us to strengthen our cooperation with a partner in the Middle East that has been active in international sports lately,” stated KSOC President Ryu Seung-min. “We will pursue sports exchange programs that will lead to mutual development.”
The announcement of this agreement comes shortly after the OCA’s decision to postpone the 2029 Asian Winter Games, initially set to be hosted in Neom, a futuristic city under construction in Saudi Arabia. Although specific reasons for the postponement were not disclosed, reports suggest that construction delays in Saudi Arabia might be a contributing factor.
In light of these developments, South Korea and China, both of which have previously hosted the Asian Winter Games, have been identified as potential alternative hosts. The OCA had approached the KSOC in August to gauge interest in potentially stepping in for the Middle Eastern country.