Saudi skier Faiq Abdi , the first athlete to represent Saudi Arabia in the history of the Winter Olympics, has completed all his technical and physical preparations to compete in the slalom competition on Monday, as part of his historic participation in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. The competitions will be held at the Stelvio Ski Center in northern Italy, where Abdi is conducting his final training camp.
Historical background and the Kingdom's first participation
Faiq Abdi's participation marks a significant milestone in the history of Saudi sports, opening the door for the Kingdom to enter the world of winter sports at the highest level. This achievement is a direct result of the substantial support the sports sector receives under the Saudi Vision 2030 , which aims to diversify Saudi Arabia's participation in international sporting events and enhance its global presence. The newly established Saudi Winter Sports Federation has worked diligently to train and empower Saudi athletes to compete internationally, and Abdi's qualification for the Olympics is the culmination of these early efforts.
Competition details and its importance
The first round of the slalom race is scheduled to begin at 12:00 PM Saudi time, followed by the decisive second round at 3:30 PM. The slalom is considered one of the most technically demanding alpine skiing events, requiring exceptional precision and quick reflexes to navigate a series of closely spaced gates on a steep, icy slope
Abedi had completed his first competition on Saturday in the giant slalom, achieving a total time of 2:53.41 minutes after completing the two runs. The competition featured 81 of the world's elite skiers and was attended and supported by His Royal Highness Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, Vice President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and head of the Saudi delegation participating in the Games, reflecting the great importance the sports leadership places on this participation.
Future impact and the Kingdom's vision for winter sports
Faiq Abdi's participation is significant not only for its technical achievements but also for inspiring a new generation of Saudi youth and encouraging them to participate in winter sports. This participation also paves the way for greater Saudi presence in future events and aligns with the Kingdom's ambitious plans in this field, most notably the Trogina in NEOM, which won the bid to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games, a move that underscores the Kingdom's determination to become a leading regional hub for winter sports.
