The Asian Winter Games

The Asian Winter Games (Winter Asiad) has been held about every four years since 1986.

gold medal from the Astana‒Almaty, Kazakhstan Games in 2011

Only seven nations attended the first Asian Winter Games in 1986. This has grown to include 32 nations at the Games held in 2017. For the 2017 Games, the Olympic Council of Asia invited athletes from Australia and New Zealand, who participated along with 30 NOCs from Asia.

The sports on the program for the Asian Winter Games are similar to the Winter Olympics. Four sports that are part of the Winter Olympics and not included are bobsleigh, luge, Nordic combined, and skeleton, left out mainly due to infrastructure limitations.

Japan has been the most successful country, leading the all-time medal tally over China, Kazakhstan and South Korea.

The next Asian Winter Games were held in 2025 (a break of 8 years), in Harbin  China. The 2029 Games are planned for Trojena of Neom, Saudi Arabia

Sports for 2025

Here are the sports on the program for 2025. Compared to the previous Games in 2017, ski jumping has been replaced with ski mountaineering.

• Alpine skiing (1986+)
  
• Biathlon (1986+)
  
• Cross-country skiing (1986+)
  
• Curling (2003, 2007, 2017+)
  
• Figure skating (1986, 1996+)
  
• Freestyle skiing (1996, 2003+)
  
• Ice hockey (1986+)
  
• Short track speed skating (1986+)
  
• Ski mountaineering (2025)
• Snowboarding (2003, 2007, 2017+)
  
• Speed skating (1986+)

Previously Held Sports

• Bandy (2011)
• Ski Orienteering (2011)
• Ski Jumping (2003, 2011, 2017). Ski jumping was featured as demonstration sport From 1986 to 1996.

Host Cities