hmc16

Been wondering in the last few days what events might be added/removed from the existing programme. I imagine the final programme will be confirmed in 2023-24? Alpine Skiing: think it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that combined will be swapped out for parallel Biathlon: don't expect any changes; IBU might push for single mixed relay but doubt IOC will accept Bobsleigh: probably the same; don't think women's side has enough strength in depth for four-woman yet despite what IOC may want CC Skiing: no changes Curling: no changes, but I hope mixed doubles gets a few more quotas; offers a good chance for non-traditional countries to be competitive Figure Skating: no changes Freestyle Skiing: mixed team aerials might get removed; FIS will push for dual moguls but again I doubt it'll be added. Eurosport commentator during SBX the other day mentioned about mixed team ski cross being potentially added? Ice Hockey: no changes Luge: IOC will definitely push to add women's doubles, but it's not even a World Cup discipline yet, so hopefully not Nordic Combined: the women now have a regular World Cup calendar, so I expect a women's normal hill event and maybe mixed team event? Short Track: no changes Skeleton: no changes Ski Jumping: think an extra women's event will be added; unsure whether it'll be an individual large hill or team normal hill event Snowboarding: don't expect any changes; Italian organisers might hope to add parallel slalom back in, or a parallel team event? Speed Skating: doesn't seem to be any obvious changes unless Team Sprint gets added Realistically I wouldn't anticipate lots of new events; only ones I would be confident on is alpine parallel (replacing combined), and a women's Nordic Combined event

Only 27 starters for the men's alpine combined tomorrow. A third (9 skiers) are from non-traditional skiing nations (Israel, Liechtenstein, Ireland, Ukraine, China, Chile, Monaco, Kosovo). Could see some surprise results and unexpected nations scoring top 10s - Israel's Szollos was even seeded in 10th and will start bib 1! I was originally in favour of keeping the combined but I think it might have run its course, based on this. Think it'll be gone by 2026, although I wish it wouldn't be replaced by parallel...

I think the COVID pandemic has hit British athletes, especially in the snow sports, a lot more than other countries - travel restrictions have severely limited their ability to train over the last few years, compared to athletes from countries with natural snow & mountains. Nonetheless, Britain's current performances are very disappointing considering their strong World Cup results in the last 4-year cycle. I think the Summer Olympic approach of channeling funding to a smaller number of sports that deliver only during the Olympics isn't as effective for the Winter Games, when there are far more external factors at play that can affect performance. If Britain wants to consistently win 5+ medals at the Winter Olympics, it needs to develop a large base of talent across multiple sports. For example, what's happened to our figure skating & short track programmes - two sports where we actually have the facilities to practice in the UK? Why were the bobsleigh teams stripped of funding after PyeongChang, when now they're probably our best shot at a medal for these games? I'm hoping UK Sport won't be too strict about the medal targets for these games and won't cut funding too much heading into 2026. We have plenty of good talents - Kirsty Muir in freestyle, Mia Brookes in snowboard, a really good and developing alpine team - and would hate for them to lose out.

Hi, I'm new around here - I was scouted out by the Totallympics Twitter account to come and join you guys after my incessant Winter Olympics tweeting! I'm half-British, half-French, so I've got dual interests - I follow most winter sports, but particularly alpine (favourite athletes are Dave Ryding and Sofia Goggia) and ski jumping (favourite athlete is Kamil Stoch).