As the 9th edition of the Asian Winter Games concludes in China's 'ice city' of Harbin on Friday, future host Saudi Arabia will take center stage with an eight-minute handover show, showcasing the charm of the desert kingdom.
A final rehearsal for the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games was held in Harbin on Wednesday, offering a special chance for Chinese and Saudi performers to come together, exchange cultural experiences and forge new friendships. Behind the scenes of the closing ceremony, a heartwarming scene unfolded as Saudi cast members mingled with China's young performers, exchanging warm greetings, signing autographs, and capturing memories through photos.
"It's so cute. Everyone is asking for pictures and like writing letters. It's really nice to be surrounded by these people," said a Saudi performer.
"Actually, it's my first time dealing with kids this way because to have performance from another country, it's in a completely different culture, and the language barrier sometimes is there. And these kids, they're amazing," said another performer.
"I'm glad to see (them), because this is how kids grow up and this is how kids learn, when kids are out and doing things and interacting with other people and being part of the Asian Winter Games and the Olympics and meeting people from everywhere else in the world," said a third performer.
Running from Feb 7-14, the Harbin Asian Winter Games has brought together more than 1,270 athletes from 34 countries and regions, making it the largest ever edition of the regional sports event in terms of overall participation.
The 2029 Asian Winter Games will be held in Saudi Arabia's futuristic city of Neom, a revolutionary urban development project expected to be completed by 2026.
Future host Saudi Arabia to show cultural charm at 9th Asian Winter Games closing ceremony
