Building a world-class winter sports training center in Asia

During the 45th General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia in Kuwait, the Olympic Council of Asia signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of Harbin City, China to build a world-class winter sports training center in Asia.

A high-level Chinese delegation from the Harbin Asian Winter Games Organizing Committee led by Harbin Vice Mayor Zhang Haihua met with Olympic Council of Asia Director General Husain Al Musallam, Olympic Council of Asia Vice President Dr. Thani Abdulrahman Al-Kuwari and Olympic Council of Asia Deputy Director General Vinod Kumar Tiwari at the Olympic Council of Asia Headquarters to finalize the details of the MoU.

Olympic Council of Asia signs Memorandum of Understanding to build world-class winter sports training center

Among the main topics of discussion was the construction of high-level training centers for winter sports in Asia in Harbin and Yabuli - the host cities for ice and snow events in the 9th Winter Games in February 2025.

“The success of the Asian Winter Games has greatly boosted Harbin’s entrepreneurial spirit. Now our city is planning to develop a high-quality winter sports training center for athletes from all over Asia, in joint cooperation with the Olympic Council of Asia,” said Harbin Vice Mayor Zhang Haihua.

The MoU was highly appreciated by the Director General of the Olympic Council of Asia, Husain Al Musallam: “This is an important step for the development of athletes in Asia in winter sports. We must ensure that this agreement is implemented and the welfare of the athletes is guaranteed.”

Accordingly, the Harbin city government will mobilize relevant departments to work closely with the Olympic Council of Asia to establish this winter sports training center. One of the first projects to be held in Harbin that will benefit all Asian National Olympic Committees is the OCA-ISU Youth Figure Skating Training Camp in August 2025.

The Olympic Council of Asia's Deputy Director General Vinod Kumar Tiwari has sent a letter to the Harbin government proposing to hold a youth figure skating training camp as the first project of the Asian Winter Sports Training Centre. The Harbin city government will provide the facility - an indoor skating rink - for use in the training camp.

Vice Mayor Zhang Haihua has asked the Olympic Council of Asia to support the construction of a winter sports museum in Harbin and help to make Harbin a global center for winter sports and ice and snow tourism .

“We are making every effort to develop Harbin's ice and snow economy . In the process, we hope to get the support of the Olympic Council of Asia and achieve mutual benefits through project cooperation,” said Vice Mayor Zhang Haihua.

Vice Mayor Zhang Haihua received the Olympic Council of Asia's Asian Order of Merit Award presented to the Harbin Asian Winter Games Organizing Committee at the General Assembly session.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/xay-dung-trung-tam-dao-tao-the-thao-mua-dong-dang-cap-tai-chau-a-2025051315104011.htm