Saudi Arabia to Host 2029 Asian Winter Games at Futuristic Ski Resort That Doesn’t Exist Yet

 Saudi Arabia has been selected to host the Asian Winter Games in 2029 in a $500 billion futuristic city that doesn’t exist yet and won’t be finished until 2026.

The country was ‘unanimously approved’ by the Olympic Council of Asia to stage the event. The event will reportedly be held in Trojena, Neom City, a planned futuristic megacity featuring a mountain resort.

A Saudi Arabian company, NEOM, announced the Trojena project in March 2022. The futuristic mountain resort will feature novel architectural innovations, year-round skiing, and other outdoor activities. The country has been chomping at the bit for its next project after completing its latest, “The Line.” 

The destination, called Trojena, is intended to be a world-class one-of-a-kind experience. The city is projected to be 33 times larger than New York City, covering an area of almost 23 square miles. It will be located 31 miles from the Gulf of Aqaba. The region is known for its high mountain range, where temperatures drop below 32ºF. 

The city’s design will incorporate a futuristic style of architecture, modern technology, and jagged terrain. A massive artificial lake, almost two miles long, will be located in the heart of the region. A folded vertical village, known as “The Vault,” will combine technology and architecture. The city’s hotels, mansions, and apartments, as well as shops and restaurants, will all be located here. The idea is to minimize the amount of land used for residency. 

Trojena will offer many outdoor activities for guests to take part in. Their primary offering will be year-round skiing on world-class artificial snow. Throughout the year, various events will take place depending on the season. In the summer months, there will be lake days and festivals. The spring season will offer a variety of activities such as mountain biking, climbing even yoga. Guests will also partake in an interactive nature reserve located on the edge of the Resort.

This is TROJENA – a new world of possibilities, with one-of-a-kind experiences, stunning natural beauty, architectural excellence and premium lakeside living – in The Mountains of NEOM.#TROJENA #NEOM pic.twitter.com/hgf1iijZmA

— NEOM (@NEOM) March 3, 2022

The Chairman of NEOM, Mohammed bin Salman, also the Crown prince, leads this project to boost the country’s economy. The project will add 10,000 jobs and contribute $800 million to their economy. 

“TROJENA will redefine mountain tourism for the world by creating a place based on the principles of ecotourism, highlighting our efforts to preserve nature and enhance the community’s quality of life, which is aligned with the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. It also confirms our commitment to being part of the global effort to protect the environment” according to their website.

After a promotional video featuring four skiers skiing uphill was posted announcing the project, the company got a lot of pushback. Many architects claim that the project is unrealistic. Many criticize that a futuristic folding vertical village will be impossible to build. 

As of now, the project is set to be completed by 2026. The Crown Prince, also the Chairman, hopes to have the city fully functioning by 2030 to meet the country’s economic goals.