- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,194,481
- Reaction score
- 59
Nordic combined skiing has been dropped from the list of sports approved for the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Tuesday.
While Nordic combined - which twins ski jumping and cross-country skiing - was axed, snowboarding's parallel giant slalom was retained.
The IOC also said in a statement that freeride skiing and snowboarding as as figure skating's synchro9 event with teams of nine competing against each other would make their debut in 2030.
The IOC had previously announced that ski mountaineering would return in 2030 after its successful debut in Milan/Cortina this February along with the rest of the core sports, and individual races for men and women are added to the sprints and mixed relay contested in Italy.
"These changes reflect the IOC’s commitment to ensuring that gender parity is achieved, and that the Olympic programme continues to evolve and remain relevant to future generations of athletes and fans, while controlling cost and complexity," the IOC said.
Small television audiences and a limited number of participating nations were among the reasons for the decision to drop Nordic combined.
Women's Nordic combined was controversially not included in Milan/Cortina, giving the IOC another reason to remove it for 2030 because of a lack of gender parity. Women do compete in the World Cup but have never made the transition to the Olympics.
Men's Nordic combined has been on the Winter Games programme since the maiden edition in 1924. Norway and Germany have dominated.
"Today's decision by the IOC is extremely disappointing. I am at a loss for words and struggle to understand the reasoning behind it,” Nordic combined race director Lasse Ottesen of the ruling body FIS said.
“The dedication and hard work of our female and male athletes, the outstanding commitment of our organizers, and the tremendous support from our National Ski Associations over many years have been nothing short of remarkable, and I fully understand their disappointment today."
Norwegian Jens Lurås Oftebro won three golds in February's events, with compatriot Andreas Skoglund helping him to team glory.
New IOC president Kirsty Coventry had taken time at the Italy Games to watch the Nordic combined and talk to athletes. But she said "uncomfortable" discussions would ultimately take place.
They might be the last Olympic gold medals ever awarded in the event, although there is no IOC reason why the sport might not be included from 2034 onwards if parameters change.
The IOC said that the 2030 Games would now be the first with full gender equality and that 16 new events will take place in France.
Other new events are a biathlon mixed single relay, speed skating team sprints for men and women, a snowboard mixed team parallel race and ski jumping women's super team.
The IOC said that athlete quotas have also been adjusted, with 3,046 athletes set to compete in France, 1,525 women and 1,521 men.
Continue reading...
While Nordic combined - which twins ski jumping and cross-country skiing - was axed, snowboarding's parallel giant slalom was retained.
The IOC also said in a statement that freeride skiing and snowboarding as as figure skating's synchro9 event with teams of nine competing against each other would make their debut in 2030.
The IOC had previously announced that ski mountaineering would return in 2030 after its successful debut in Milan/Cortina this February along with the rest of the core sports, and individual races for men and women are added to the sprints and mixed relay contested in Italy.
"These changes reflect the IOC’s commitment to ensuring that gender parity is achieved, and that the Olympic programme continues to evolve and remain relevant to future generations of athletes and fans, while controlling cost and complexity," the IOC said.
Small television audiences and a limited number of participating nations were among the reasons for the decision to drop Nordic combined.
Women's Nordic combined was controversially not included in Milan/Cortina, giving the IOC another reason to remove it for 2030 because of a lack of gender parity. Women do compete in the World Cup but have never made the transition to the Olympics.
Men's Nordic combined has been on the Winter Games programme since the maiden edition in 1924. Norway and Germany have dominated.
"Today's decision by the IOC is extremely disappointing. I am at a loss for words and struggle to understand the reasoning behind it,” Nordic combined race director Lasse Ottesen of the ruling body FIS said.
“The dedication and hard work of our female and male athletes, the outstanding commitment of our organizers, and the tremendous support from our National Ski Associations over many years have been nothing short of remarkable, and I fully understand their disappointment today."
Norwegian Jens Lurås Oftebro won three golds in February's events, with compatriot Andreas Skoglund helping him to team glory.
New IOC president Kirsty Coventry had taken time at the Italy Games to watch the Nordic combined and talk to athletes. But she said "uncomfortable" discussions would ultimately take place.
They might be the last Olympic gold medals ever awarded in the event, although there is no IOC reason why the sport might not be included from 2034 onwards if parameters change.
The IOC said that the 2030 Games would now be the first with full gender equality and that 16 new events will take place in France.
Other new events are a biathlon mixed single relay, speed skating team sprints for men and women, a snowboard mixed team parallel race and ski jumping women's super team.
The IOC said that athlete quotas have also been adjusted, with 3,046 athletes set to compete in France, 1,525 women and 1,521 men.
Continue reading...
