Chinese President Xi Jinping officially opened the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin during a festive ceremony that celebrated the city’s renowned ice and snow heritage. Held at the Harbin International Conference, Exhibition and Sports Center, the event drew around 8,000 spectators and distinguished guests, including IOC President Thomas Bach.
The ceremony’s highlight was a torch relay featuring four celebrated athletes—short track speed skater Yang Yang, freestyle skiing pioneer Han Xiaopeng, Olympic race walker Wang Zhen, and speed skater Zhang Hong—who, alongside children carrying ice lanterns, ignited the lilac-shaped cauldron at Harbin Ice and Snow World, the globe’s largest ice and snow theme park.
Taking place from February 7 to 14 under the banner “Dream of Winter, Love among Asia,” the Games mark China’s third time hosting the event (after Harbin in 1996 and Changchun in 2007) and follow the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022. A record-breaking 34 countries and regions are participating, with over 1,200 athletes set to compete in both ice events in Harbin and snow events in Yabuli.
Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, First Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia, lauded the rapid transformation of Harbin into a winter wonderland and praised China’s efforts in popularizing winter sports. Liang Huiling, President of the Harbin AWG Organizing Committee and Governor of Heilongjiang, welcomed the athletes and encouraged them to push their limits and make lasting memories, while Gao Zhidan underscored the Games’ commitment to being green, inclusive, and safe, calling for greater Asian unity.
During the athletes’ parade, star competitors Ning Zhongyan and Liu Mengting carried the Chinese flag amid a delegation of 257 members, including 170 athletes competing in 64 events. The evening concluded with a dynamic gala performance—featuring segments like “Blazing Ice and Snow” and “Passion in Motion”—culminating in the lighting of the main cauldron and a dazzling display of ice sculptures symbolizing unity and friendship.
