Winter Olympic Games French Alps 2030 Sports Programme

[intoronto 6,387]

Meanwhile,

 

Same source: https://c.ledauphine.com/jeux-olympiques/2025/08/26/on-est-encore-en-lice-mais-rien-n-est-fait-l-ice-cross-compte-bien-se-faire-une-place-aux-jeux

Says 3x3 Hockey will not be added for 2030 

[heywoodu 15,997]

53 minutes ago, intoronto said:

According to this article:

"Although nothing has been officially confirmed yet, four additional sports could be added to the traditional Olympic program in 2030. Ski mountaineering, freeride (skiing and snowboarding), telemark, speed skiing, dog racing."

Now I don't think dog racing is one of them

 

https://www.ledauphine.com/jeux-olympiques/2025/08/18/jo-2030-les-sports-additionnels-le-facteur-x-du-projet-olympique

 

Not sure how reliable this source is

Speed skiing will certainly be one of the most boring things to watch? I mean, the speeds are amazing, but as a viewing sport it is just almost entirely nothing. Like, literally go down a straight line in a set position and brake after the finish.

 

Undoubtedly Nordic combined has a (way, way) higher fanbase and honestly a more international field.

[intoronto 6,387]

6 minutes ago, heywoodu said:

Speed skiing will certainly be one of the most boring things to watch? I mean, the speeds are amazing, but as a viewing sport it is just almost entirely nothing. Like, literally go down a straight line in a set position and brake after the finish.

 

Undoubtedly Nordic combined has a (way, way) higher fanbase and honestly a more international field.

The problem is Nordic Combined will be an IOC decision, while any new sports will be coming from the Organizing Committee.

[Dragon 2,026]

9 minutes ago, intoronto said:

The problem is Nordic Combined will be an IOC decision, while any new sports will be coming from the Organizing Committee.

But the IOC can still overrule the Organizing Committee.

Which is what I think they would do with sled dog racing (cruelty to animals) and freeride and speed skiing (safety of humans)

[intoronto 6,387]

8 minutes ago, Dragon said:

But the IOC can still overrule the Organizing Committee.

Which is what I think they would do with sled dog racing (cruelty to animals) and freeride and speed skiing (safety of humans)

Apologies, I went ahead and subscribed,

 

"Although nothing has been officially confirmed yet, four additional sports could be added to the traditional Olympic program in 2030. Ski mountaineering, freeride (skiing and snowboarding), telemark, speed skiing, sled dog racing, ice cross, 3x3 hockey, ice climbing, trail running, and cyclocross are on the starting list. With varying degrees of chance of ultimately appearing on the 2030 Olympic agenda."

 

We can cross out hockey. It implies 4 of these will be chosen. My guess would be Ski Muntaineering, Freeride, cyclocross and cross-country, with ice cross in fifth.

[De_Gambassi 1,267]

55 minutes ago, intoronto said:

Apologies, I went ahead and subscribed,

 

"Although nothing has been officially confirmed yet, four additional sports could be added to the traditional Olympic program in 2030. Ski mountaineering, freeride (skiing and snowboarding), telemark, speed skiing, sled dog racing, ice cross, 3x3 hockey, ice climbing, trail running, and cyclocross are on the starting list. With varying degrees of chance of ultimately appearing on the 2030 Olympic agenda."

 

We can cross out hockey. It implies 4 of these will be chosen. My guess would be Ski Muntaineering, Freeride, cyclocross and cross-country, with ice cross in fifth.

Is it new that additional sports/events can be added by already established olympic IFs ? It was my understanding that only non-olympic IFs could apply as additional sports ?

[intoronto 6,387]

1 hour ago, De_Gambassi said:

Is it new that additional sports/events can be added by already established olympic IFs ? It was my understanding that only non-olympic IFs could apply as additional sports ?

Yea that was my understanding too, but it could be different for the Winter Games.

[heywoodu 15,997]

3 hours ago, intoronto said:

Apologies, I went ahead and subscribed,

 

"Although nothing has been officially confirmed yet, four additional sports could be added to the traditional Olympic program in 2030. Ski mountaineering, freeride (skiing and snowboarding), telemark, speed skiing, sled dog racing, ice cross, 3x3 hockey, ice climbing, trail running, and cyclocross are on the starting list. With varying degrees of chance of ultimately appearing on the 2030 Olympic agenda."

 

We can cross out hockey. It implies 4 of these will be chosen. My guess would be Ski Muntaineering, Freeride, cyclocross and cross-country, with ice cross in fifth.

Cyclo-cross, much as I would like it, would be ridiculous. If you think Nordic combined isn't international, enjoy the regular 1-2-3-4-5-6's for Belgium in the top level races (and even worse in the women's races, but with the  flag instead of the  flag). Which is not odd, since Belgium is kind of the only country in the world where it's really, really a big deal (Flanders, actually, so only even half of one country), with maybe a few small patches here and there in the Netherlands, Spain, France, Czech Republic  

 

Ice cross would be amazing to have at the Olympics, but not exactly an easy sport to just host somewhere given that you need quite a long track that is only useful for that one specific event.

Edited August 27 by heywoodu

[NearPup 3,479]

I'm assuming if the organizers want to add a new discipline it would be added by the IOC the way disciplines are added normally, not through some weird additional sport process.

 

Going to do my thoughts on all of them:

• Ski mountaineering makes a lot of sense, it will already be there in 2026. It feels like a natural addition to the winter Olympics and I would not be surprised if it becomes a permanent addition down the line
• Freeride seems like a great candidate. It has a very established world tour and the full support of the FIS. It's probably the most well developed winter sport / discipline that is not currently in the Olympics
• Telemark I am mixed on. I enjoy watching it and I'd be happy to have it included, but I wonder if it is perhaps too niche?
• Speed skiing is the least interesting sport on this list. It's both incredibly dangerous and incredibly boring. I actually think it has a great chance at being included in 2030 because of where the Olympics are being held, but I don't think it will come back very often
• Sled dog racing is a big old no for me
• Ice Cross I would be happy to see added. It is relatively well developed and it definitively plays well on TV
• 3x3 hockey is a no for me, it barely even exists yet
• Ice Climbing is a big yes for me, of all the sports not currently in the (pure) winter Olympics this is the one I most want to see added
• Cross country running / trail running is actually the single sport I most want to see added in the Winter Olympics. It would allow a ton of non-traditional countries to have a serious involvement in the winter Olympics, and cross country running is a real winter sport when done in wintery conditions
• Cyclocross would also be a good fit for the winter Olympics, and I would also like to see it added

 

 

If I were picking four out of that list, it would be: Ski mountaineering, cross country running, ice climbing and freeride.

What I expect (from most to least likely): Ski mountaineering, freeride, speed skiing, cross country running

Edited August 27 by NearPup

[NearPup 3,479]

6 minutes ago, heywoodu said:

Ice cross would be amazing to have at the Olympics, but not exactly an easy sport to just host somewhere given that you need quite a long track that is only useful for that one specific event.

Ice cross isn't so bad because it usually uses temporary venues.

Edited August 27 by NearPup