mk Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on February 6, 2025. Photo: Chen Tao/GT " src="https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2025/2025-02-06/bc49e8b4-5868-4d80-807d-398bd09d2a90.jpeg" />

China's Han Yu (center) and Wang Zhiyu defeat the Qatar team 10-1 in Group B of the curling mixed doubles at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on February 6, 2025. Photo: Chen Tao/GT

As the flame was lit at the main torch tower during the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games on Friday in Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, one of the torchbearers, Vinod Kumar Tiwari, deputy director general of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), told the Global Times that Harbin 2025 is a miracle on ice and snow.

A total of 120 torchbearers participated in the torch relay for the Harbin Games on Monday along a 11-kilometer relay route, which covered several landmarks in the city, including Harbin Central Street, which has a history of more than 100 years, and the Songhua River, which runs through the city.

"I have visited Harbin several times and have always been impressed with the distinctive architecture of the city buildings and the magnificent scenery. It really is a unique and charming place to visit," the OCA official told the Global Times on Tuesday. 

"During the torch relay, I could feel the excitement of the Asian Winter Games, and the passion for winter sports. I could feel the warmth of the local people and sense their pride in their home city. Harbin has much to offer in terms of sightseeing, but above all it is the friendliness and the unity of the people that really strikes me," Tiwari told the Global Times. 

According to the organizers, the Harbin Games has drawn over 1,270 athletes from 34 countries and regions across Asia, making it the largest edition of the Games in terms of the number of both participating countries/regions and athletes. Bhutan, Cambodia and Saudi Arabia also made their debut at the Asian Winter Games in Harbin.

New faces 

The record number of athletes will compete in 64 events across six sports. Looking forward to the competitions, Tiwari said that the Harbin Games will be compact and action-packed. 

"It will be a joy and a thrill to see Asia's world-class winter sports athletes compete in such a variety of events on ice and snow and it will be fascinating to watch athletes from countries and regions that are not established winter sports powers," said the Indian official. 

"We have athletes from desert countries in West Asia such as Kuwait and Bahrain and athletes from tropical countries in Southeast Asia such as Singapore and the Philippines. This is the magic of the Asian Winter Games and a chance to bring everyone together from all five zones of the OCA and unite them under the slogan of the Harbin Games - 'Dream of Winter, Love among Asia,'" he noted. 

Yu Zaiqing, an International Olympic Committee member, noted that the Games will promote the growth of the winter sports population in Asia, the Xinhua News Agency reported. 

Considering the Harbin 2025 organizing committee was officially established as recently as January 10, 2024, they have done an incredible job in preparing for the Games in only one year when five to seven years is the norm ahead of a major multi-sport event. 

The Games are a miracle on ice and snow, said the 58-year-old Tiwari.

Vinod Kumar Tiwari, deputy director general of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Photo: Courtesy of OCA

Lasting legacy 

Following the principles of sustainability, cost-effectiveness and adaptability for post-event use, all of the 13 competition venues were renovated using existing facilities.  

Harbin previously hosted the 3rd Asian Winter Games in 1996, marking China's first time hosting a continental winter sports event.

The Harbin Ice Hockey Stadium, which was the main venue for the 3rd Asian Winter Games, is the venue for men's ice hockey competitions this time. 

The OCA official was impressed with many infrastructures and venues, saying that he was very pleased to see that the previous competition venues are part of the 9th Asian Winter Games 29 years later. 

Legacy and sustainability are very much a part of the modern-day Olympic Movement, and Harbin 2025 is a wonderful example of this. 

While the venues have stayed the same, the city has grown and developed and is a shining jewel in the crown of Heilongjiang Province, said Tiwari. The Harbin Games represent the latest international multi-sport winter sports event held in China since the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

Beijing 2022 was a great success, as it was held in very difficult circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, it wrote another chapter in China's success story in the Olympic Movement, as Beijing became the first city in the world to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics, he said. 

China realized its goal of engaging 300 million people in winter sports activities since Beijing won the bid to host the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2015.

According to Tiwari, winter sports are beneficial to enthusiasts at all levels in terms of health and lifestyle, and the achievement of hosting the Harbin Games will be a lasting positive legacy for generations to come. 

China has played a major part in the development of winter sports in Asia. 

The boom of winter sports will be felt in Harbin and Yabuli, too, over the next few days, the OCA official told the Global Times.