The 9th Asian Winter Games 2025 Host City Contract is signed in Hangzhou on Sept 24. [Photo/Ice City Plus]
 
Harbin, together with the Olympic Council of Asia and the Chinese Olympic Committee, officially signed the 9th Asian Winter Games 2025 Host City Contract in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, on Sept 24.
 
Harbin, the capital city of China's northernmost Heilongjiang province, was granted the right to host the 9th Asian Winter Games 2025, as approved by the Executive Board of the Olympic Council of Asia, on July 8.
 
The newly-signed contract specifies the roles and tasks that each party should fulfill during the preparations for and hosting of the Games. It acts as a basis for the host city to organize the Asian Winter Games.
 
The signing of the host city contract is a milestone event in the preparations for the Asian Winter Games, marking the start of a new stage in getting ready for the grand event.
 
In accordance with the host city contract, Harbin has established the Organizing Committee for the Asian Winter Games 2025.
 
The committee is responsible for organizing all Games-related activities, and will be subject to the supervision and guidance of the Olympic Council of Asia and the Chinese Olympic Committee.
 
The committee undertakes all of the obligations and responsibilities listed in the host city contract and its appendices, striving to prepare for the Games and ensuring they are of the highest standard.
 
Harbin's winning bid to host the quadrennial event marks another watershed moment in China's history of hosting large-scale international events following the 2021 Chengdu Universiade, 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and the ongoing Hangzhou Asian Games.