Iconic Winter Olympics sport dropped from programme for 2030 Games

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleNordic combined will not be part of the 2030 Olympics (Getty)The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has removed Nordic combined, a discipline combining ski jumping and cross-country skiing, from the 2030 French Alps Winter Olympics programme. This decision marks the first time the sport, which has been a part of every Winter Games since its inception in 1924, will not be included, following its struggle for Olympic retention since 2022. The IOC justified its decision by highlighting consistently low popularity indicators, viewership figures, and a lack of global universality across multiple past Winter Games, noting it ranked lowest in 11 of 14 assessed popularity metrics. The removal has caused significant disappointment within the sport's community, with FIS President Alexander Ospelt and athletes expressing heartbreak, particularly regarding the dashed hopes for a women's Nordic combined Olympic debut. In contrast to Nordic combined's exclusion, the IOC retained snowboard's parallel giant slalom due to improved popularity and confirmed the addition of freeride for skiing and snowboard, alongside a figure skating team event called synchro9, for the 2030 Games. In fullNordic combined controversially axed from 2030 Winter Olympics after 106-year runMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

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