CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Saudi Arabian alpine skier Fayik Abdi completed his second appearance on the global winter stage today, February 16, 2026, competing in the men’s slalom at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
The 28-year-old, who made history as the first Saudi and GCC athlete to compete in a Winter Olympics in 2022, is part of a two-athlete delegation representing the Kingdom in Italy. Abdi was joined in the delegation by Rakan Alireza, who competed in the men’s cross-country skiing events earlier in the Games. Abdi’s participation follows his appearance in the giant slalom on February 14, where he successfully finished both runs, maintaining the Kingdom’s streak of competitive finishes in technical alpine disciplines.
The Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) confirmed that the 2026 participation is a central pillar of its long-term strategy to build a winter sports ecosystem. This strategy has recently shifted focus following the joint announcement by the SOPC and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) on January 26, 2026, regarding the postponement of the 2029 Asian Winter Games (AWG). Originally slated for the Trojena resort in NEOM, the 10th edition of the AWG has been moved to Almaty, Kazakhstan, to allow for the continued development of Saudi infrastructure and a stronger domestic athlete pipeline.
Under a revised hosting framework, Saudi Arabia is scheduled to host a series of standalone international-standard ice and snow events over the coming years. These events are designed to broaden grassroots participation and provide local athletes, technical officials, and judges with elite-level experience.
Abdi’s return to the Olympic stage marks a milestone for the Saudi Winter Sports Federation, which has seen a marked increase in registered athletes since 2022. The SOPC stated that the focus now shifts to the 2030 Winter Olympic cycle and the gradual activation of the Trojena mountain resort, which authorities indicate will be ready for competitive use by 2031.