Saudi Arabia to host 2029 Asian Winter Games at their desert megacity

Winter sports in the desert, yes you heard it right!

Saudi Arabia has won the bid to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games. The Arab state will become the first country in West Asia to host the multi-country event.

The desert Kingdom will host the 2029 Asian Winter Games at a $500 billion futuristic megacity known as NEOM.

The development comes as the most unusual news for many, given a desert nation will be hosting winter sports.

However, the NEOM project has been Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's most ambitious project under the kingdom's Vision 2030 development plan.

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Set to be completed in 2026, the project will include year-round skiing, a manmade freshwater lake, chalets, mansions, and ultra-luxury hotels.

The Asian Winter Games include competitions for skiing, snowboarding, ice hockey, and figure skating -- 47 events in all, 28 on snow and 10 on ice.