Saudi Arabia's announcement as the host of the 2029 Asian Winter Games has raised eyebrows around the world. The country, known for its hot desert terrain, plans to build Trojena, a massive ski resort, to accommodate the games. This ambitious project is part of Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman's Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the country's economy away from oil dependency. However, the proposed ski resort has raised concerns about the project's feasibility and sustainability.
Trojena is planned to be built 50 kilometers away from the Gulf of Aqaba, in a region with tall mountains rising 2,600 meters above sea level. While the area is known more for its deserts than snow, the mountaintops experience temperatures below freezing during winter. The resort will include a ski village, a man-made freshwater lake, and a vertical village called the Vault, which will act as the main entrance into the venue.
As Saudi Arabia embarks on this ambitious project, comparisons to the Qatar World Cup's success are inevitable. Qatar, another country known for its desert climate, managed to successfully host the 2022 FIFA World Cup by building stadiums with innovative cooling technology. The question remains whether Saudi Arabia can replicate this success in hosting the Winter Games.
The country faces significant challenges in making Trojena a reality. Critics argue that the 2026 completion date is impractical, given the lack of existing infrastructure in the region. Additionally, the area's weather patterns make natural snowfall a rare occurrence. To create a winter sports venue, Saudi Arabia will need to rely heavily on artificial snowmaking machines, which require vast amounts of water and energy.
This raises questions about the project's sustainability. China, which hosted the 2022 Winter Olympics using 100% artificial snow, consumed over 1 billion liters of water for snow production. In Saudi Arabia, desalinated water from the Red Sea will need to be pumped to the resort's artificial freshwater lake, a process that demands massive amounts of energy.
Critics of the project argue that Saudi Arabia's sustainability claims are disingenuous, and that the country is more concerned with enhancing its global image through sports tourism. The Kingdom has recently hosted high-profile boxing matches, Formula 1 races, wrestling events, and even acquired the English Premier League club Newcastle United. Furthermore, Egypt, Greece, and Saudi Arabia are in talks to submit a proposal to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Despite the criticism, Saudi Arabia remains optimistic about completing Trojena on time and attracting 700,000 annual visitors and 7,000 permanent residents by 2030. The Kingdom may even launch an Olympic bid in the future. However, to achieve these goals, Saudi Arabia will need to find sustainable solutions for the environmental impact of constructing such a massive megaproject.
The Trojena ski resort represents both the potential for progress and the risk of environmental harm in Saudi Arabia's push for economic diversification. The success of the Qatar World Cup may provide inspiration, but it remains to be seen whether Saudi Arabia can balance the demands of hosting the Winter Games with the need for sustainable development. As the world watches, the Kingdom will need to address the criticisms and concerns surrounding the Trojena project, and ultimately determine if the benefits outweigh the costs.
What do you think of Saudi Arabia's plans for the Winter Games? Are you skeptical or optimistic about the development? Share your thoughts in the comments below.