The possibility of adding cyclo-cross and cross-country skiing to the 2030 Winter Olympics program may appeal to some, but not all.
Winter Olympic sports federations – skiing, skating, biathlon, curling, luge, bobsleigh, and skeleton – have opposed the idea of adding these two disciplines to the program, which is set to take place in the French Alps from February 1st to 17th, 2030.
"The Winter Olympic federations firmly believe that such an approach would dilute the brand, heritage, and identity that make the Winter Olympic Games unique – it is a celebration of sports practiced on snow and ice, with its own distinct culture, athletes, and venues," the federations stated.
International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry initiated a review of the Winter Olympics program when she took office in June. Later that month, the possibility of cyclo-cross and cross-country skiing becoming Winter Olympic disciplines emerged after local authorities and businesses in the Planche des Belles Filles region proposed a plan to host 'cross' competitions at the 2030 Games.
In October, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe told The Guardian that he believed cross-country skiing and cyclo-cross had a good chance of making it into the program, especially after a conversation with UCI President David Lappartient.
However, Max Cobb, a representative of the International Biathlon Union, felt that the decision on which sports are included in the Winter Olympics should only be made by those "snow and ice sports." "If they were extremely popular sports, they would already be in the Summer Games – but they are not," he said.
The Olympic Charter of the International Olympic Committee currently requires that sports held at the Winter Olympic Games take place on snow and ice. While cyclo-cross and cross-country skiing are sometimes held on ice and snow, they are also competed on grass, tracks, or muddy park areas.
The Winter Olympics program currently had 116 medal events, while the Summer Games had 329 last year. Cyclo-cross and cross-country skiing were among the four new disciplines being considered for inclusion in the program, some of which are indoor sports.
Some countries are already preparing for the possibility that cyclo-cross could be part of the 2034 Winter Olympics in Utah. Brendan Quirk, a representative of USA Cycling, said he believed the discipline would be "hugely powerful" at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.
"Based on the conversations I've had, I would say the probability [of cyclo-cross debuting] at the 2030 Games is over 50%. It's a big priority for Sebastian Coe and David Lappartient. I really appreciate the UCI's persistence in making this happen," Quirk said.
