Officials from the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) have praised the Harbin Asian Winter Games as a milestone for multi-sport events in the region 🌏. With the Games concluding this week, OCA Director General Husain Al Musallam called the event a 'benchmark' for Asia, emphasizing its seamless organization and athlete satisfaction.
'Our athletes love competing here and want to return,' Al Musallam said, applauding Harbin’s rapid preparation—completed in just 18 months—and its attention to detail, from free mobile charging stations to ginger tea for visitors 🫖. He also hailed the medical services as 'the most advanced' he’s seen in decades of attending Asian sports events.
The Games broke records with over 1,200 athletes from 34 countries and regions, including debutants Saudi Arabia and Cambodia 🇸🇦🇰🇭. Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, OCA first vice president, noted the event’s historic turnout coincided with Harbin’s Spring Festival tourism boom, which saw 12 million visits (+20.4% YoY) during the holiday.
Post-Games plans are already in motion: Harbin’s deputy mayor Zhang Haihua announced flexible venue management and digital upgrades to boost winter sports accessibility. The city also aims to blend sports with tourism and commerce, ensuring the Games’ legacy lives on 🎿.
