FIS Is Confident About Women's Inclusion in the Olympic Program

Winter Games 2030: FIS is confident about the inclusion of women in the Olympic program
The FIS is confident that women's Nordic combined will be included in the Olympic program for the 2030 Winter Games. Lasse Ottesen, the FIS race director, expressed optimism, stating, "I am extremely positive and very sure that the IOC makes the only right decision to include women - not only for 2030 but beyond."

Nordic combined is the only sport without women in 2026
At the 2026 Olympics in Milan, Nordic combined will be the only sport without female competitors. The IOC cited the lack of competitive opportunities for women from various countries as one reason. Ottesen highlighted the remarkable growth in recent years, mentioning that the number of participating female athletes and nations has been increasing.

The IOC will decide in the second half of 2025 whether Nordic combined remains in the Olympic program. There is also a possibility that the men's event might be discontinued. "That would be a significant cut. Nordic combined has always been included since its Olympic debut in 1924, marking 100 years of tradition," commented Sandra Spitz, Sports and Event Director at FIS. If Nordic combined is retained in the program, final decisions about the Olympic formats will be made in May 2026, determining the inclusion of women.

Calendar adjustments for women's events
Recently, the FIS has attempted to increase the sport's attractiveness with new formats. Next winter, a sprint competition is set to be introduced. The women's World Cup calendar for 2025/26 will also be aligned with that of the men, with women participating in the traditional Lahti Ski Games in Finland for the first time. Many women competitors feel that the future of their sport is intertwined with their opportunities. Nathalie Armbruster, a three-time world championship runner-up, expressed concern for the sport's future, stating, "If the IOC removes the foundation for the Olympics for us, we don't know what will happen." She added, "As young athletes, we are worried because this is my passion and what I want to pursue as a career. We young athletes do have serious concerns."

Source: sid