The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has removed Nordic Combined from the program for the 2030 Winter Olympics, ending the sport’s uninterrupted presence at every Winter Games since the inaugural edition in 1924, as organizers continue their push toward gender equality at the Olympics. The event starts with a ski jump competition, the result of which determines the staggered starting order in the ensuing cross-country ski race.
The decision marks the first time in more than a century that the traditional winter discipline will not be contested at the Games. IOC President Kirsty Coventry acknowledged the significance of the decision, saying it “may come as a disappointment.”
The FIS Nordic Combined Association shared the devastation of the athletes and coaches on their social media: “After more than 100 years, Nordic Combined will for the first time ever not be part of the Winter Olympic Games. A heart-breaking decision, leaving us speechless and struggling to understand what just happened.”
Austrian ÖSV Sports Director Mario Stecher said, “Today’s IOC decision is a devastating blow for Austrian winter sports and a heavy setback for Nordic combined,” and highlighted how the history and the progress of this sport were not considered appropriately.
The removal comes as the 2030 Games in the French Alps are set to become the first Winter Olympics to feature an athlete field made up of 50% women. A total of 3,046 athletes will compete, including 1,525 women and 1,521 men across 126 medal events.
Gender equality was one of the main objectives of the upcoming Winter Olympics, even if it meant shutting down historical sports from the event, just to achieve the gender quota. Female participation will increase after four sports—luge, skiing, bobsleigh, and ice hockey—receive athlete quota increases of up to 7%.
With Nordic Combined remaining a men-only Olympic discipline, its exclusion also advances the IOC’s objective of creating a gender-balanced Olympic program. The decision means that a sport with more than 100 years of continuous Olympic history has been dropped as organizers prioritize achieving equal male and female representation across the Winter Games.
At the same time, the IOC approved the addition of new events. Freeride skiing and snowboarding will make their Olympic debut. The 2030 Games will also introduce Synchro9, a synchronized figure skating event featuring teams of nine skaters.
