the choice of Saudi Arabia as a host country is controversial

The desert landscapes, which serve as the backdrop for the Paris-Dakar in Saudi Arabia, will be transformed to host the Asian Winter Games. In 2029, thousands of athletes will travel to this country, where the temperature does not drop below 0°C, to practice skiing, snowboarding and ice sports. “It is impossible to imagine that this application will not be catastrophic from an environmental point of view”says Maël Besson, specialist in ecological transition and sport.

Saudi Arabia is planning the creation of a city, an artificial lake and several luxury hotels. The Neom project, which will cover nearly 26,000 km2, the equivalent of the area of ​​Belgium, will cost 500 billion dollars. French athletes are indignant. After the FIFA World Cup awarded to Qatar, winter sports in Saudi Arabia are reigniting the controversy over states capable of buying prestigious sporting events. Saudi Arabia is also a candidate to host the FIFA World Cup in 2030.