Winter Olympic organizers have expressed their opposition to the idea of including events from summer federations in the Winter Olympics program. The proposal to add sports like cyclocross and cross-country running to the 2030 Winter Games has been met with resistance by the Winter Olympic Federations group. The group, representing various snow and ice sports such as skiing, skating, biathlon, and curling, emphasized that such additions would detract from the unique identity and heritage of the Olympic Winter Games.
The International Olympic Committee President, Kirsty Coventry, initiated a review of the Winter Games program earlier this year. With 116 medal events in the winter program, there is room for expansion compared to the more crowded Summer Games. Additionally, the suggestion to include sports like cyclocross and cross-country running, which are traditionally not played on snow and ice, would require changes to the IOC’s Olympic Charter rules.
Ivo Ferriani, the president of the bobsled and skeleton federation and a representative of winter sports on the IOC executive board, emphasized the importance of evolving existing winter sports to attract broader participation and enhance the appeal of the Olympic Winter Games. He pointed to the upcoming Olympic debut of ski mountaineering as an example of innovation within the existing winter sports framework.
While cyclocross and cross-country running have gained support within Olympic circles, including backing from influential figures like David Lappartient and Sebastian Coe, not all stakeholders are convinced. Max Cobb, the secretary general of the International Biathlon Union, expressed skepticism about the proposal, highlighting the need for any Winter Games additions to align with the family of snow and ice sports. Cobb emphasized that the focus should be on preserving the essence of the Winter Olympics and maintaining the integrity of the event.