History is on the slopes again! 🌟 Saudi Arabia's trailblazing Winter Olympian Fayik Abdi is set to carve his mark at the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China, this Sunday. The alpine skier, who made Saudi's Winter Olympics debut in Beijing 2022, chatted with CGTN's Zhu Mandan about his passion for "magic" on snow and his mission to boost winter sports in the desert kingdom.
Abdi, 27, famously competed in the men's giant slalom at Beijing 2022 — a milestone for Saudi participation in cold-weather sports. "There's no feeling like skiing," he said, comparing it to flying. His journey comes as Saudi Arabia ramps up investments in ice and snow sports, aiming to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games in Trojena, a futuristic mountain resort.
🚀 Abdi, who helped secure Saudi's 2029 bid, praised China's expertise: "We can learn from their success in engaging youth." With the Middle East embracing winter sports (yes, even snowboarding in the desert!), Abdi's story is a fresh chapter in global athletic unity. Who's ready for camel-shaped ski lifts? 🐫❄️
