The Chinese national flag is raised during the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Han)
HARBIN, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, first vice president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), declared the 9th Asian Winter Games closed at the Harbin International Conference, Exhibition and Sports Center on Friday night.
"This is truly a unique and charming part of China and the world - not only for the beauty of the city and the landscape but also for the warmth and friendliness of the local people," Fok said in his speech during the closing ceremony.
The Games, officially opened on February 7, showcased over 1,200 athletes from 34 countries and regions across Asia, making this edition the largest in terms of participating delegations and athletes.
On the final day of competition, the Philippines claimed its first-ever gold medal in Asian Winter Games history by defeating South Korea 5-3 in the men's curling final, while China beat Hong Kong, China 10-3 to secure the bronze. In the women's curling final, South Korea won over China 7-2, with Japan taking the bronze.
In ice hockey, Kazakhstan and Japan defended the men's and women's titles, respectively, on Friday.
China topped the medal tally with 32 gold, 27 silver, and 26 bronze medals, followed by South Korea with 16 gold, 15 silver, and 14 bronze medals. Japan ranked third with 10 gold, 12 silver, and 15 bronze medals.
The host nation tied the record for the most gold medals set by Kazakhstan at the 7th Asian Winter Games in Astana-Almaty in 2011.
Harbin has embraced the Winter Asiad for the second time, having hosted the third edition 29 years ago. In 2007, China also hosted the 6th edition of the Games in Changchun.
The 2029 Asian Winter Games will be held in Trojena, Saudi Arabia, marking the first time the event is hosted in West Asia. ■
Athletes and artists perform during the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen)
Artists perform during the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Artists perform during the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen)
Artists perform during the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen)
Xu Mengtao (5th R), flag bearer of the Chinese delegation, attends the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Yanan)
Flags of delegations are seen during the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)
Flag bearer of China's Hong Kong parade during the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Yanan)
flag bearer of Japan parade during the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Yanan)
Athletes parade during the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)
Flags of delegations are seen during the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen)
Flags of delegations are seen during the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)
Artists perform during the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen)
Athletes and artists perform during the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)
Artists perform during the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Yanan)
Members of Indonesian delegation attend the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Yibo)
Members of the delegation of China's Hong Kong attend the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Yibo)
The flag bearer of Bhutan parades during the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)
The flag bearer of Thailand parades during the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)
The flag bearer of Afghanistan parades during the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)
Artists perform during the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)
The flag bearer of Qatar parades during the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)
The flag bearer of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea parades during the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)
Athletes attend the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)
Artists perform during the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)
The flag of Olympic Council of Asia and the Chinese national flag are raised during the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Yibo)
The closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games is held in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen)
Children perform during the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)
The closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games is held in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Artists perform during the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen)
Artists perform during the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Yanan)
Athlete Xu Mengtao (C) of China attends the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)
Members of the delegation of Afghanistan attend the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Han)
Members of the delegation of Democratic People's Republic of Korea attend the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Han)
Artists perform during the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen)
Artistic performance of the 10th Asian Winter Games host city Neom of Saudi Arabia is presented during the closing ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)
