A big disappointment for several federations. Last Thursday, the International Olympic Committee closed the door on the presence of several sports for the 2030 Winter Olympics. IOC President Kirsty Coventry indicated that the program, which will be voted on in June, will not include “any summer sports and no year-round sports.” A tough blow especially for cyclo-cross and trail running.
The head of the organizing committee for the 2030 Olympics, held in the French Alps, Edgar Grospiron had considered in December the introduction of outdoor disciplines unrelated to snow and ice. “We are no longer 100 years behind, the Games are evolving,” regretted Jean Gracia, president of the French Athletics Federation, to Ouest-France. “For a president from South Africa, a continent that does not participate in the Winter Olympics, it’s a shame that the upcoming Games will not be universal by introducing trail running.”
“It’s nonsense”
Facing climate change, many believe that the IOC should amend its Olympic charter, which is based on snow and ice for the Winter Olympics. Regarding cyclo-cross, Haute-Saône had applied to host the events, via the site of La Planche des Belles Filles. “It’s nonsense and above all, this decision diverts attention from the real subject,” lamented Rudy Cara, director of the President’s office of the Haute-Saône Department Council. “It would be a shame if internal conflicts went against issues for the planet, for sports and for health.”
Both parties believe that “we must not lose hope” in order to integrate the Olympic program in the future. With the 2034 Winter Olympics, scheduled to be held in Salt Lake City in the United States, a working group within the IOC has been tasked with a broader reflection on the sports program of the Games. This may undoubtedly give hope to the disciplines that have been rejected for now.
In recent months, international winter federations had called for not “distorting” the event by opening it to disciplines supported by international summer federations.
Original article published on RMC Sport
