Ski mountaineering has already been included on the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games programme in Gangwon in anticipation of its full Olympic debut at Milan Cortina 2026.

It is now also part of the International University Sport Federation World University Games,

Ski mountaineering joins biathlon, curling, ice hockey, figure skating, speed skating, short track, Alpine and cross-country skiing on the programme for Harbin 2025, the Olympic Council of Asia has announced.

"The inclusion of Ski mountaineering on the programme marks a significant step forward in the recognition and promotion of our sport in the Asian region and the Olympic ecosystem,” newly re-elected International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF) President Regula Meier said.

"This addition not only diversifies the range of winter sports at the Games, but also underscores the growing popularity of ski mountaineering in the last few years."

Ski mountaineering involves climbing mountains either on skis or carrying them, depending on the steepness of the ascent, and then descending on skis.

"The ISMF is working closely with the [Harbin 2025] Organising Committee in order to have as many medal events as possible,"  the ISMF revealed.

The Games are due to feature 11 disciplines and 64 events with competitions for men and women and mixed events in some sports.

"The OCA will shortly be forming a Coordination Committee which will be visiting Harbin shortly to look into all the venues and preparations of the Games," OCA acting director general Vinod Kumar Tiwari said.

It will be the second time the Asian Winter Games have been held in Harbin which previously hosted them in 1996.

They are scheduled to run from February 28 to March 9 in 2025.

It will be the ninth edition of the Asian Winter Games since they made their debut at Sapporo in 1986.

But it will be the first time they have been staged since 2017, when they were also held in Sapporo.

The 2029 Asian Winter Games have controversially made awarded to a new resort Neom in Saudi Arabia.