Your post Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Sport Program Review

[intoronto 5,846]

Alpine skiing

I only have one comment: The FIS/teams etc. need to take the combined seriously. This a classic and I hope it survives the cut for future games. Having skiers race h2h on a 25 second parallel course does not sound like a fair compromise tbh. Final verdict: Keep the program the same. If parallel slalom is a must, add it as a event instead of replacing an event currently on the program.

 

Biathlon

This sport is really under the radar. Very exciting and I wouldn't change a thing. The single mixed relay is not necessary for this sport.

 

Bobsleigh

The monobob had all athletes use the same technology for their sleds, and surprise the Germans did not medal. This needs to be replicated across all events on the bobsleigh program. I would also add in the men's monobob as well, and reduce the max. number of sleds to 2 per event.

 

Cross-country skiing

Nothing in particular here. The program is fine as is.

 

Curling

The depth in curling is something else. Arguable the winter sport with the most depth? I think the mixed doubles field can easily expand to 12-16 teams without jeopardizing the quality of the competition. Pools would be necessary if this were to happen.

 

Figure skating

The scoring system in the team event needs to change. Its too predictable as it stands, and medalists can be figured out well before the end of the event. Not sure what the answer is here.

 

Freestyle skiing

Mixed team aerials has to go. What an utter joke of an event by the IOC to gift China a gold medal (what an epic fail btw lol). I think its definitely gone for 2026. Most likely a mixed team ski cross will replace it. It is also finally time for dual moguls to make it onto the Olympic program.

 

Hockey

I think the system in the men's tournament is dumb. Having all 12 teams have a shot at the medal round defeats the purpose of the round robin. Have the top 8 advance and face off in a 8 team bracket. Simple.

 

Luge

Really can't do anything to this sport. I think it should remain the same for 2026. If women's doubles is added, we will likely see the other three events suffer severe quota cuts. 

 

Nordic Combined

No comment

 

Short track speed skating

This sport is very exciting, and I think it could use with another individual event per gender. No clue what though. 

 

Skeleton

No comment, though the mixed team event is likely on the program for 2026.

 

Ski Jumping

A women's large hill competition is likely to be added for 2026.

 

Snowboarding

WTF was that mixed team snowboard cross event? It has potential, but needs tweaking. A seeding run is needed too.

 

Speed Skating

Team sprint should be added.

[thiago_simoes 1,423]

Do away with the Winter Olympics; Summer Olympics every two years. 

 

Now, seriously, this is one of the least exciting sports events I could ever watch. I tried to focus on snowboarding this time,  but I lost my excitement very soon, so there goes my hope of ever enjoying something, ANYTHING, out of the program.

Anyway, curling, ice hockey, bobsleigh, snowboarding and speed skating should meet IOC's criteria of attracting viewers. Anything involving skiing is boring to me, but what else is there to compete at the winter Olympics? Skeleton, luge and especially ski jumping are the kind of sports I will never see the  appeal. And figure skating is too full of drama, boring long programs, uninteresting skills and corrupt judges for me to care.

[NearPup 3,156]

Since this is in my fantasy world where I run the IOC and can change the 2900 athlete cap, I won't take quota reduction into account.

 

Alpine skiing

The team event needs a seeding round. If I had my way the combined would stay and there wouldn't be individual parallel races, but ya.

 

Biathlon

I would still like a qualification sprint for the pursuit that is separate from the sprint event. I would also equalize distances between men's and women's events.

 

Bobsleigh

I would add men's monobob and women's four-man, with reduced quotas in both two and four man. Monobob would take the brunt of ensuring diversity.

 

Cross-country skiing

I would remove the men's 28.5km event and replace it with the 50km event. Increase all women's distances.

 

Curling

I would increase the mixed doubles field to 16 teams.

 

Figure skating

Changes to the team event: increase the number of teams that make the free skate to eight, change the number of points given in the free skate to increase it's importance. Also singles judging needs a complete overhaul but that is outside the scope of this thread.

 

Freestyle skiing

Make the per NOC quota equal to 4 x the number of individual events (also applies in snowboarding). Increase team size in mixed aerials to two men and two women (and allow two teams per NOC). Add a mixed team dual moguls event. Add a men's, women's and mixed ski cross team event. Add a rail jam event, with the same athletes that compete in big air and slopestyle.

 

Hockey

3 on 3 is totally happening in 2030 so I won't mention it here :P

 

Luge

Add women's doubles.

 

Nordic Combined

Adding women's individual normal and large hill events.

 

Short track speed skating

No change. I would def like to see the ISU explore some new race formats, however. I would also change the false start rule - each skater gets one false start over an entire distance (across all rounds) before being penalized.

 

Skeleton

I would add a mixed team event.

 

Ski Jumping

I would add a women's large hill competition and a women's team competition.

 

Snowboarding

I would add the parallel slalom, a men's and women's team snowboardcross event and a rail jam event.

 

Speed Skating

I would remove the women's 3000m and replace it with the 10000m. I would add the team sprint and make both the 500m and the 1000m a two run, best time counts event. I would also outlaw breaking ties beyond the hundredth of a second and change the false start rule so each skater has one false start.

[intoronto 5,846]

  On 2/23/2022 at 3:03 AM, thiago_simoes said:

Do away with the Winter Olympics; Summer Olympics every two years. 

 

Now, seriously, this is one of the least exciting sports events I could ever watch. I tried to focus on snowboarding this time,  but I lost my excitement very soon, so there goes my hope of ever enjoying something, ANYTHING, out of the program.

Anyway, curling, ice hockey, bobsleigh, snowboarding and speed skating should meet IOC's criteria of attracting viewers. Anything involving skiing is boring to me, but what else is there to compete at the winter Olympics? Skeleton, luge and especially ski jumping are the kind of sports I will never see the  appeal. And figure skating is too full of drama, boring long programs, uninteresting skills and corrupt judges for me to care.

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I am sorry you find these sports boring, but are a huge fan of gymnastics? With all due respect, that is pretty laughable.

[intoronto 5,846]

  On 2/23/2022 at 3:05 AM, NearPup said:

 

Cross-country skiing

I would remove the men's 28.5km event and replace it with the 50km event.

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[Laraja 1,495]

  On 2/23/2022 at 2:33 AM, intoronto said:

Alpine skiing

I only have one comment: The FIS/teams etc. need to take the combined seriously. This a classic and I hope it survives the cut for future games. Having skiers race h2h on a 25 second parallel course does not sound like a fair compromise tbh. Final verdict: Keep the program the same. If parallel slalom is a must, add it as a event instead of replacing an event currently on the program.

 

Biathlon

This sport is really under the radar. Very exciting and I wouldn't change a thing. The single mixed relay is not necessary for this sport.

 

Bobsleigh

The monobob had all athletes use the same technology for their sleds, and surprise the Germans did not medal. This needs to be replicated across all events on the bobsleigh program. I would also add in the men's monobob as well, and reduce the max. number of sleds to 2 per event.

 

Cross-country skiing

Nothing in particular here. The program is fine as is.

 

Curling

The depth in curling is something else. Arguable the winter sport with the most depth? I think the mixed doubles field can easily expand to 12-16 teams without jeopardizing the quality of the competition. Pools would be necessary if this were to happen.

 

Figure skating

The scoring system in the team event needs to change. Its too predictable as it stands, and medalists can be figured out well before the end of the event. Not sure what the answer is here.

 

Freestyle skiing

Mixed team aerials has to go. What an utter joke of an event by the IOC to gift China a gold medal (what an epic fail btw lol). I think its definitely gone for 2026. Most likely a mixed team ski cross will replace it. It is also finally time for dual moguls to make it onto the Olympic program.

 

Hockey

I think the system in the men's tournament is dumb. Having all 12 teams have a shot at the medal round defeats the purpose of the round robin. Have the top 8 advance and face off in a 8 team bracket. Simple.

 

Luge

Really can't do anything to this sport. I think it should remain the same for 2026. If women's doubles is added, we will likely see the other three events suffer severe quota cuts. 

 

Nordic Combined

No comment

 

Short track speed skating

This sport is very exciting, and I think it could use with another individual event per gender. No clue what though. 

 

Skeleton

No comment, though the mixed team event is likely on the program for 2026.

 

Ski Jumping

A women's large hill competition is likely to be added for 2026.

 

Snowboarding

WTF was that mixed team snowboard cross event? It has potential, but needs tweaking. A seeding run is needed too.

 

Speed Skating

Team sprint should be added.

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I really liked your ideas. Besides Bobsleigh, where 3 runs are enough for me. I think two would be so few runs.

 

But I agree in part with Thiago, some sports or events are pretty boring to watch (Who am I saying that? I love surfing ), but for instance. Some Freestyle events in Skiing and Snowboard are very predictable. Ski Jumping has so many competitors. And Figure Skating has a loooong program. The team event, imo, would be the sum of all results from the best athlete in each country in their individual competitions.

[Topicmaster1010 4,441]

Just a warning to the 1976 fencing champion himself that if he's reading this, he might want to leave.

 

Alpine skiing

Team event with a run on each course or else get rid of it. The 2022 edition was terrible seeing the blue course always win. I would also prefer the combined over the parallel slalom.

 

Biathlon

If I had to change one thing, maybe make the pursuit race be based on a round of shooting before hand (around 50 targets) instead of the results of the sprint. Or a separate race beforehand. I would also add 5 more quotas for each gender. 

 

Bobsleigh

No over-powered German bobsled equipment. Otherwise it might as well just be an engineering competition.

 

Cross-country skiing

No changes.

 

Curling

Mixed doubles to 16 teams with two groups of 8.

 

Figure skating

Team event scoring in the free program section changed to 10-8-6-4-2 scoring. No changes happen at all with the current scoring once the short program is over.

 

Freestyle skiing

Mixed team aerials needs to go. Maybe also increase the quotas for slopestyle/big air and men's ski cross.

 

Hockey

Men's team rosters can probably trimmed down to 23 to save 24 (2*12) quotas. There's already reserves on sight anyways.

 

Luge

Women's doubles can be added once it is at a sufficient level which I don't believe it is at currently. +2 doubles teams to bring the total to 20. -3 quotas in both men's and women's down to 32.

 

Nordic Combined

Addition of women's nordic combined

 

Short track speed skating

Perhaps the addition of a 3000m event? Everything else looks fine.

 

Skeleton

No changes.

 

Ski Jumping

Goodbye mixed team NH, hello women's team NH. Also adding in 5 additional women's quotas for any NOC who only has 3 qualified athletes.

 

Ski Mountaineering

Excited to see this sport. I think the current program is sprint/distance for each gender + mixed relay? Sounds good to me for now.

 

Snowboarding

Bye bye mixed team snowboardcross. Add in the parallel slalom. Have both parallel giant slalom and slalom be two runs each. Men's halfpipe quota increased from 25 to 30. Men's slopestyle/big air quotas increased from 30 to 35. Men's snowboard cross quotas increased from 32 to 40 (as you can see, I love gender equality).

 

Speed Skating

Increase men's quotas by at least 10. There's already enough female quotas. Maximum number of athletes per country back to 10. 500m races should be two races. Mass start should be reworked. My idea was is to have it be an 80-100 lap race and after every 3-5 laps, the last skater or last couple skaters to cross the line is eliminated. The remaining skaters who are left fight it out for medals. Whoever finishes first after the end of the race wins.

 

And most importantly get rid of the 2900 athlete cap and increase it to at least 3000.

[rajiv 31]

Bring in a rule that the number of Winter events cannot be more than 20% of the number of Summer events .

At the moment it's about a third ,

Before WWII the ratio was about eight to one . This seems about right but nowadays TV ( mainly NBC ) want lotsa content so would be difficult to so drastically cull events 

Nothing, however,  to stop many of the events being renamed  demonstration events . Some , like female ice hockey , really aren't international events at all  .

Some winter medals have similar status to summer medals but not very many 

 

[De_Gambassi 1,225]

Good thread !

 

Alpine skiing (-)

I'm all in favor of a team event in alpine skiing, but the format suck ass. Both courses should count, and if it takes to much TV air time to do so, just have one man and one woman competing then.

 

Biathlon (-)

I've vever had any problem with the sprint/pursuit double thingy. It's just the way the sport develops itself. The only thing, i would consider is having the single mixed relay instead of the regular one for the sake of format diversity, possibly with 2 teams per nation.

 

Bobsleigh (-1)

Monobob should never have been a thing, but at least it showed us that this sport is much better when a country(es) doesn't have a huge technological advantage vs the rest of the world. Same equipment for everyone should be something to aim for. In the meantime, I'd reverse to the Pyeongchang program, looking to add 4 women at some point.

 

Cross-country skiing (+2)

I've never been a big fan of disciplines alternating events each olympic cicles. I guess it's ok for distancers as they have 3 events, but not for sprinters. I would have both a classic and a freestyle sprint race, and have both style during the team sprint (and also on a shorter race, so that sprint specialists have a bigger edge).

 

Curling (-)

Nothing to say about the Olympic events, but I would like to see curling open to synthetic ice. It would certainly open new horizons for the sport.

 

Figure skating (-)

Whatever.

 

Freestyle skiing (+2)

Skicross team (mixed) team event must be a thing, and also some kind of a mixed moguls events. Generally speaking, I wish every athletes to have at least two shots during the olympics.

 

Hockey (-)

Expand the men tournament to 16 teams ! (obv, no self interest here)

 

Luge (-)

No issue with the program. But I think, there is an argument to remplace artificial track with natural one. At the very least, we would have two nations chasing gold medals, and not just one (success !). But more important, with natural tracks costing a fraction of artificial ones, the sport would have a chance to become popular in new areas (that will never be the cases with artificial tracks).

 

Nordic Combined (+1)

Female event in 2026 seems a given. And I guess, it's ok. 

 

Short track speed skating (-)

I believe the sport is struggling between two attitudes: is it rollerball on ice or speed skating on a shorter track ? Post-race reviews should not in any sport have so much influence. IMO, either the sport accepts itself as a somewhat contact sport, or it should change everything (formats, distances...)

 

Skeleton (+1)

Add the mixed team event

 

Ski Jumping (-)

I would add the large hill women event and keep only the mixed team event.

 

Snowboarding (+2)

For the sake of variety in formats, I would only consider adding the Parallel Slalom if we go back to the old (non-parallel) giant slalom format. Rest is ok.

 

Speed Skating (-)

Fine, except for the women 5000m that should be replaced by the 10000m. I also believe that 14 events should be the upper limit for this sport, so no team sprint event.

 

[De_Gambassi 1,225]

  On 2/23/2022 at 9:40 AM, rajiv said:

Bring in a rule that the number of Winter events cannot be more than 20% of the number of Summer events .

At the moment it's about a third ,

Before WWII the ratio was about eight to one . This seems about right but nowadays TV ( mainly NBC ) want lotsa content so would be difficult to so drastically cull events 

Nothing, however,  to stop many of the events being renamed  demonstration events . Some , like female ice hockey , really aren't international events at all  .

Some winter medals have similar status to summer medals but not very many 

 

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Well, yes, and ?