A statement on Saturday from the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) said the event will be held at a "later date to be announced in due course". No official reason has been given for the postponement but Singapore publication The Straits Times, external has reported that there has been a delay in the construction of a ski resort.

Their reporting also suggests discussions have been held on hosting the competition four years later than planned. Saudi Arabia was awarded the hosting rights in 2022, with the event set to take place in the planned city of NEOM, which is still being constructed.

The 2029 Asian Winter Games was set to be the 10th edition of the event, with previous hosts including China, Japan and Kazakhstan.

However, the joint SOPC and OCA statement said an "updated framework" will now see Saudi Arabia host a "series of standalone winters sports events" in the coming years.

The postponement marks a setback for the kingdom, which has committed to hosting several major events over the next decade. The events are part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s sweeping Vision 2030 project that aims to modernise Saudi society and its economy, build a sports hosting portfolio and help diversify the economy from its reliance on oil.

Read the full story at BBC