The 9th Asian Winter Games (AWG 2025) officially concluded on the evening of February 14, after eight days of intense competition in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China.** The grand closing ceremony marked the end of a historic edition of the Games, which saw record participation and significant achievements for many nations. Among the distinguished guests attending the event were Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Mongolian Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai, and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown.
The closing ceremony took place at the Harbin International Conference, Exhibition, and Sports Center, where athletes from 34 countries and territories marched together in a unified display of sportsmanship. The Games’ mascots, Binbin and Nini, led the parade as the crowd erupted in applause, celebrating the dedication and hard work of all competitors. Spectators witnessed a captivating cultural performance that showcased the beauty of winter sports and the rich traditions of the host nation. A highlight of the ceremony was a video montage featuring the most memorable and emotional moments from the competition, reliving the triumphs, challenges, and unforgettable experiences of athletes throughout the tournament.
As expected, China dominated the medal tally, finishing as the overall champion with 32 gold medals, 27 silver medals, and 26 bronze medals. The host nation reaffirmed its superiority in winter sports, outperforming traditional powerhouses South Korea and Japan, who secured second and third place in the overall standings, respectively. The 2025 edition of the Asian Winter Games also witnessed a historic breakthrough as Chinese Taipei, Thailand, and the Philippines secured their first-ever medals in the event’s history, marking an important milestone in the development of winter sports across the region.
Vietnam participated in AWG 2025 with only one representative, Duong Truong Lap, who competed in the 500m and 1,500m short-track speed skating events. His presence at the Games marked another step forward in Vietnam’s ambition to develop winter sports, despite the country lacking a strong tradition in this field. While Vietnam has yet to claim a medal in the Winter Games, Truong Lap’s participation reflected the nation’s commitment to expanding its sporting diversity and gaining valuable experience at an international level.
The 2025 Asian Winter Games was the largest edition in history, held under the theme “Winter Dreams, Asian Love.” With more than 1,200 athletes competing across 64 events in 11 sports, the competition attracted unprecedented participation. The Games also saw Cambodia and Saudi Arabia making their debut, further broadening the reach of winter sports within Asia. The growing number of participating nations highlighted the increasing popularity of winter sports in regions that previously lacked significant representation in such competitions.
One of the most notable announcements at the closing ceremony was the official confirmation that Saudi Arabia will host the 10th edition of the Asian Winter Games in 2029. The event will take place in Trojena, a planned futuristic winter sports resort that is part of the country’s Vision 2030 development strategy. This marks the first time in history that the Asian Winter Games will be hosted by a West Asian nation, signaling a bold new chapter for winter sports in the region. Saudi Arabia’s ambitious plans to construct state-of-the-art winter sports facilities in Trojena demonstrate its commitment to bringing world-class winter sports competitions to the Middle East.
As the 2025 Asian Winter Games came to a close, the focus now shifts toward future editions, with nations like Vietnam looking to further strengthen their winter sports programs and increase their competitiveness on the international stage. The growth of winter sports in Asia, combined with the expanding reach of the Asian Winter Games, suggests that the 2029 edition in Saudi Arabia could be the most groundbreaking yet.
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