With Asia's growing presence on ice and snow celebrated, and the host's organizational expertise applauded again, the Harbin Asian Winter Games will go down in history as a game-changer on all fronts.

Three years after the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics reshaped the winter sports landscape in China, the successful hosting of the 9th Winter Asiad in the Heilongjiang provincial capital has built on that legacy, further expanding the thrills and chills into uncharted territories — from Asia's hot and humid southeastern islands to its dry and sizzling deserts in the west.

Chen Shifeng (L) of China tries to save a shoot from Roman Starchenko of Kazakhstan during the men's ice hockey play-offs semifinal match between Kazakhstan and China at 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Cai Xiangxin)

The largest-scale Winter Asiad in history — attracting a record 1,275 athletes from 34 nations and regions to Harbin — has seen eight countries and regions appear on the overall medal table as of Thursday, tying with the 2011 edition as the most evenly-contested Winter Asiad since the inaugural edition in 1986.

The debuts of Cambodia and Saudi Arabia, the first Winter Asiad medal won by Thailand (men's freeski slopestyle) and the first Indian contingent to contest the speed skating team events (men's team spring and team pursuit),among many other highlights, have served as a strong testament to the increasing involvement of Asian countries and regions in winter sports.

"We have a lot more young athletes from the south and west (of Asia) taking part (than at earlier editions), we have countries in the desert sending teams ... and this is how we reach the goal of development," Husain Al Musallam, director-general of the Olympic Council of Asia, said during the Harbin Games.

"We need to engage with more youth, attracting them to try winter sports, even though their countries' climate might not necessarily suit winter sports.

"That's why we've seen the(record) number of athletes here, and that's how we improve not only the participation, but also their standards."

With an emotional closing ceremony set to bring the curtain down on Friday night, winter sports' previously unimaginable expansion in Asia will usher in an exciting future, as Saudi Arabia picks up the baton from Harbin, becoming, in four years' time, the first Arab nation — and first from western Asia — to host the Winter Asiad.

The journey from the traditional winter wonderland of Harbin to the ambitious alpine project taking shape in Saudi's Trojena mountain cluster speaks volumes for the surging interest in winter sports and the potential of these events in delivering economic and social benefits for the host.

"We are preparing a big surprise for everyone at Trojena in four years time," Ahmed Bin Dhuwayhi, chief of the Saudi Arabia delegation, said in Harbin.

"Saudi Arabia has a series of cooperation projects going on with China, such as in education, culture and sports. Without a doubt, we have a lot to learn about winter sports organization from our Chinese hosts."

Preparing for the Games on a tighter-than-normal schedule, Harbin — which was only confirmed as host of the 2025 edition 18 months prior to the Games'spectacular opening last week — has pulled off almost a mission impossible to prepare five downtown competition venues for ice sports, and eight courses at the Yabuli Ski Resort for the snow events, to the highest international standards.

The venues are all existing facilities, with some rinks and slopes having staged events at the 1996 edition, which was also hosted in Harbin.

Meanwhile, China's proven professionalism and know-how in organizing massive international multisports events, such as Beijing 2022 and the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games, have guaranteed the smooth operation of the Harbin Asiad.

Harbin won the bid for the 9th Asian Winter Games in July 2023,and Sultan Al Busaidi, chair of the OCA's medical committee, spoke highly of the event's organization.

"Harbin took over in a very short time, and the organizers have done extensive work," he said.

"We are impressed by the healthcare system, with its advanced equipment, skilled personnel and professional training."

With less than a year to go before the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics open in Italy, Harbin 2025 has also offered Asia's ambitious medal contenders an invaluable "dress rehearsal" ahead of the ultimate Olympic test.

The inclusion of the new Olympic discipline of ski mountaineering in Harbin 2025's program, in particular, has helped young aspirants gauge their strength and adjust their pace as they look to scale the podium's heights at skimo's Olympic debut in Italy.

"Within Asia, the Chinese team is among the strongest in ski mountaineering, but there is still a gap compared to European powerhouses. We look forward to testing ourselves against them on the Olympic stage," said China's men's sprint gold medalist, Buluer.

Off the ice and snow, the warmth of the Chinese hosts and the breathtaking scenery around the "Ice City" have left overseas participants impressed.

"We were overwhelmed. It exceeded our expectations," Ahmed Al Shaya, coach of Kuwait's curling team, said in Harbin. "It's the first time for me in China, first time in Harbin. It's a great city, very welcoming. I like the people, I like the volunteers, they're doing a great job. The organization and everything that we've seen so far was way beyond our expectations."

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