Shock: IOC removes one of the oldest Olympic sports

In a significant decision impacting winter sports, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has voted to exclude Nordic combined from the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps. This move marks the end of a tradition spanning more than a century, as the sport has been a staple of the Winter Games since their inception in Chamonix in 1924.

The IOC's executive board confirmed changes to the Olympic program for 2030, which will see parallel giant slalom in snowboarding remain, while Nordic combined loses its Olympic status. The committee cited several factors for the decision, including the sport's limited international spread, a small number of countries with elite competitors, and relatively modest global spectator interest. Data from recent Olympics indicated that Nordic combined consistently ranked last in popularity among all disciplines.

Another key reason for the exclusion is the IOC's push for greater gender equality. Despite women competing in the World Cup since 2020, women's Nordic combined was not included in the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympic program, signaling a broader issue with the sport's inclusivity.

The decision has been met with disappointment in countries with a strong tradition in Nordic combined, such as Austria, Finland, Japan, Germany, and Norway. Austrian Ski Federation sports director Mario Stecher called it "very bad news for Austrian winter sport" and a severe blow to Nordic combined, arguing that the IOC did not sufficiently consider the sport's recent development. This exclusion represents one of the most substantial changes to the Winter Olympic program in recent times, raising questions about the future of traditional sports in an era focused on global appeal and broader international representation.

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very bad news for Austrian winter sport