The 2029 Asian Winter Games, initially planned to take place in Neom, Saudi Arabia, will now be hosted by Almaty, Kazakhstan. Neom, a large-scale city development still under construction, was originally chosen as the venue for the event.
Saudi Arabia has recently reduced the scope of several major projects amid increasing costs and lower oil revenues. These financial challenges have led to the decision to relocate the Games to Almaty, which has experience hosting winter sports events.
**Why this matters**
The change highlights the financial pressures impacting ambitious development plans in Saudi Arabia. It also underscores the importance of established infrastructure and experience in successfully hosting international sporting events.
Source: NewsData