Winter Olympics: Nordic combined dropped from 2030 Games

The Nordic combined will not be the first to feature the sport after it was removed from the 2030 Winter Olympic program.

Announcing the decision on Tuesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) cited both a limited number of competitors and a lack of public interest as reasons for scrapping the men-only event, which has featured in every Games since the inaugural edition in 1924.

IOC president Kirsty Coventry said while the decision “may be disappointing”, the sport could return in 2034.

Meanwhile, freeride skiing and snowboarding have been added to the schedule for the first time. This is where competitors make their own way down the hill on an unprepared and unmarked course and are judged on their line choice, how much control they have, the fluency of the run and the execution of the tricks they create.

Also making its Olympic debut in 2030 is synchro9, which is synchronized figure skating. Each team will consist of nine skaters and the format and medals will be determined by head-to-head battles in the knockout rounds.

The Winter Olympic Games to be held in the French Alps will also be the first edition of the Games with 50% female athletes.

There will be a total of 3,046 athletes with 1,525 women and 1,521 men competing in 126 events.

The increase in women’s participation will come as a result of four sports – luge, skiing, bobsleigh and ice hockey – increasing their athlete quotas by up to seven percent.