Chinese city Harbin to host Asian Winter Games in 2025, bid team promise ‘outstanding’ event
- Capital of northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province unanimously approved by Olympic Council of Asia’s General Assembly to host Games for second time
- Bid chief Yu Zaiqing promises that Harbin 2025 will ‘ensure the development of winter sports in China and the whole of Asia’
The Olympic Council of Asia has announced that the Chinese city of Harbin will host the ninth edition of the Asian Winter Games in 2025.
The capital of northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province was unanimously approved by the OCA’s General Assembly to host the Games for a second time. It previously hosted the event in 1996.
The OCA’s decision was made at its 42nd Congress, held in Bangkok, Thailand this weekend. Harbin was the only candidate city for the Games.
“I’m fully convinced Harbin can deliver an outstanding Asian Winter Games and ensure the development of winter sports in China and the whole of Asia. The Chinese Olympic Committee fully supports Harbin,” COC vice-president Yu Zaiqing said.
It will be the third time that China has hosted the Winter Asian Games, which were also held in Changchun in 2007. Harbin’s bid came after Beijing hosted the Olympic Winter Games in February.
Harbin’s bid committee stressed to delegates from 45 National Olympic Committees at the OCA General Assembly the city has a long history of hosting major international winter sports Games.