"Least Popular Sport": No more Nordic Combined at the Olympics
The IOC is removing Nordic Combined from its Olympic program starting in 2030. Here's how the decision is justified:
The verdict is in: Nordic Combined is no longer part of the Olympic Winter Games program after more than 100 years. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) made this decision on Tuesday.
The traditional sport was removed from the competition schedule for the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps. In return, Freeride and Synchro-9, a form of figure skating, will make their Olympic debut in four years.
Alpine snowboarders also had to fear for their Olympic future in the run-up, but will remain part of the Olympics with the parallel giant slalom.
Unpopular and Lacking Diversity
Nordic Combined had been an integral part of the Winter Games from the very beginning.
The decision against the traditional sport was made, among other reasons, because according to studies, it was the least popular sport among audiences at the 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026 Winter Games.
Furthermore, there was deemed to be too little diversity, with the sport concentrating on only a few countries. Only five different nations had won medals at the last four Winter Games.
This leaves Nordic Combined facing an uncertain future – without the Olympics, it even risks being completely phased out.
