Jordan's lone athlete finds strength in numbers

No coach, no trainer, no teammate — no one to service his skis.

Sharif Zawaideh stood alone as Jordan's sole representative at the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, Heilongjiang province.

But he wasn't lonely.

On the eve of the opening ceremony, he marked his 45th birthday surrounded by athletes from Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and beyond. "And I got to be the flag bearer as my birthday present," he said.

Finishing 30th in the men's slalom, Zawaideh departed Monday night for Austria to compete in the Alpine Ski World Championships.

But, before leaving, he had plenty of goodbyes to say — to athletes from other countries, particularly those from the Middle East. "We've really bonded and become friends," he said.

"What's been really special about being here is that I train in the United States, even though I'm from Jordan, and there's not many people from Jordan or the Middle Eastern Arab countries that ski, and I don't feel like I belong in skiing when I'm in Europe or America," he said.

"But, being here, and being part of something that's so international, that brings more diversity to a sport that is very much dominated by Europeans and Americans, it's been really great. If only just to showcase that, just because we're from countries that don't have snow or don't have mountains, we can participate too."

"The Asian Winter Games are a very important thing for Asia and for the Middle East."

Zawaideh's time in China left a lasting impression — especially the warmth and hospitality of the people he encountered.

"We have three volunteers assisting Team Jordan, and every morning they help with the car, my equipment, transportation, meals and guest passes. Even the security staff, drivers, and hotel employees have been incredibly welcoming and accommodating, despite the language barrier," he said.

With only a short window between his competition and his late-night flight, Zawaideh expressed his desire to experience some of Harbin before departing. "I'd love to visit the Ice and Snow World, explore the Asian Games center and catch some curling or hockey matches."