9th Asian Winter Games Concludes in Harbin
The closing ceremony marks a historic edition with record participation and numerous medal achievements.
HARBIN, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The 9th Asian Winter Games (AWG) officially concluded on February 14, 2025, in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China, following a week of competitions that featured record-breaking participation and noteworthy performances from various delegations.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang attended the friendship-themed closing ceremony at the Harbin International Conference, Exhibition and Sports Center.
Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, first vice president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), declared the Games closed, expressing gratitude for the successful event.
'Thank you for a magnificent Asian Winter Games,' Fok stated, highlighting the charm of Harbin both in its natural beauty and the warmth of its people.
The Games witnessed participation from over 1,200 athletes representing 34 countries and regions, marking the largest edition in the history of the AWG.
Notably, Cambodia and Saudi Arabia made their inaugural appearances at the event.
The competition spanned 64 events across 11 disciplines, incorporating new events such as curling mixed doubles, ski mountaineering, and freestyle skiing aerials synchro.
Preliminary ice hockey and curling events commenced earlier on February 3 and 4, respectively.
China dominated the medal table, securing 32 golds, 27 silvers, and 26 bronzes, equalling Kazakhstan's record of gold medals achieved during the 7th AWG in Astana-Almaty in 2011. South Korea and Japan followed with 16 and 10 golds, respectively, while a total of nine delegations secured at least one medal.
Gao Zhidan, president of the Harbin AWG Organizing Committee, commended the spirit of unity and sportsmanship fostered throughout the Games, noting, 'Our athletes have proved with their outstanding performance that perseverance and hard work make dreams come true.'
The closing ceremony celebrated the theme 'Spring Warms Harbin, Love Inspires Asia,' illustrating the unifying power of winter sports.
Olympic champion Xu Mengtao, who won two golds and a silver at the Games, carried the Chinese flag during the ceremony.
As performances showcased the theme of unity, athletes participated in a formation symbolizing the interconnectedness of Asian nations, with the mascots 'Bin Bin' and 'Ni Ni' reinforcing the essence of togetherness.
The OCA flag was ceremonially transferred from Harbin's mayor Wang Hesheng to Fok, who entrusted it to Saudi Arabia's Minister of Sports, H.R.H. Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, marking the upcoming hosting of the Asian Winter Games in 2029.
The closing ceremony concluded with a symbolic extinguishing of the cauldron, accompanied by artistic performances that illustrated the cultural and sporting legacy of the event.
Noteworthy achievements included the Philippines winning its first gold in men's curling and Thailand and Chinese Taipei celebrating their initial medals in AWG history.
Additionally, Malaysian figure skater Low Chun Hong showcased the growth of winter sports in Southeast Asia and beyond.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang attended the friendship-themed closing ceremony at the Harbin International Conference, Exhibition and Sports Center.
Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, first vice president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), declared the Games closed, expressing gratitude for the successful event.
'Thank you for a magnificent Asian Winter Games,' Fok stated, highlighting the charm of Harbin both in its natural beauty and the warmth of its people.
The Games witnessed participation from over 1,200 athletes representing 34 countries and regions, marking the largest edition in the history of the AWG.
Notably, Cambodia and Saudi Arabia made their inaugural appearances at the event.
The competition spanned 64 events across 11 disciplines, incorporating new events such as curling mixed doubles, ski mountaineering, and freestyle skiing aerials synchro.
Preliminary ice hockey and curling events commenced earlier on February 3 and 4, respectively.
China dominated the medal table, securing 32 golds, 27 silvers, and 26 bronzes, equalling Kazakhstan's record of gold medals achieved during the 7th AWG in Astana-Almaty in 2011. South Korea and Japan followed with 16 and 10 golds, respectively, while a total of nine delegations secured at least one medal.
Gao Zhidan, president of the Harbin AWG Organizing Committee, commended the spirit of unity and sportsmanship fostered throughout the Games, noting, 'Our athletes have proved with their outstanding performance that perseverance and hard work make dreams come true.'
The closing ceremony celebrated the theme 'Spring Warms Harbin, Love Inspires Asia,' illustrating the unifying power of winter sports.
Olympic champion Xu Mengtao, who won two golds and a silver at the Games, carried the Chinese flag during the ceremony.
As performances showcased the theme of unity, athletes participated in a formation symbolizing the interconnectedness of Asian nations, with the mascots 'Bin Bin' and 'Ni Ni' reinforcing the essence of togetherness.
The OCA flag was ceremonially transferred from Harbin's mayor Wang Hesheng to Fok, who entrusted it to Saudi Arabia's Minister of Sports, H.R.H. Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, marking the upcoming hosting of the Asian Winter Games in 2029.
The closing ceremony concluded with a symbolic extinguishing of the cauldron, accompanied by artistic performances that illustrated the cultural and sporting legacy of the event.
Noteworthy achievements included the Philippines winning its first gold in men's curling and Thailand and Chinese Taipei celebrating their initial medals in AWG history.
Additionally, Malaysian figure skater Low Chun Hong showcased the growth of winter sports in Southeast Asia and beyond.
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