Nordic Combined: IOC Removes Bid for 2030 Olympics

In return, the IOC is adding two new disciplines to the program. The newcomers are freeriding and Synchro-9, a variant of figure skating. Both formats are intended to modernize the program and appeal to younger target audiences.

The parallel giant slaloms of the alpine skiing competitions will remain in the program of the five rings. In this way, the IOC is securing at least part of the classic alpine disciplines for the Games in the Alps.

Reactions from the Winter Sports Scene

The decision triggered partly fierce reactions within the winter sports scene. Critics see the removal as a departure from established competition formats, while proponents argue with reference to TV ratings and viewer interest among younger generations.

Among the prominent representatives of the scene are athletes such as Johannes Lamparter, who have celebrated international success in Nordic Combined. Mario Stecher is also among the well-known names in this sport.

In its reasoning, the IOC pointed to the study results on the popularity of the individual disciplines. According to these, Nordic Combined finished in last place in audience favor at each of the four Winter Games mentioned.

New Disciplines in the Program

The removal is part of a phase in which the IOC is aligning its program more closely with market and ratings logic. With the inclusion of freeriding and Synchro-9, new formats that are more commercially exploitable for media are to be integrated.

The 2030 Winter Games will be held in the French Alps. Until then, athletes in Nordic Combined still have the opportunity to compete at other major events such as World Championships or the Continental Cup.

The news about the end of the discipline was broadcast on July 7, 2026, among other outlets, on the program Deutschlandfunk. In this way, the decision also reached a broad audience in the German-speaking world.

Outlook on the 2030 Winter Games

Overall, the IOC faces the challenge of weighing Olympic tradition against economic viability. The removal of Nordic Combined marks one of the most far-reaching interventions in the winter sports program in a long time.

The coming years will show whether the new disciplines can deliver the hoped-for increases in viewership. Until then, Nordic Combined remains an Olympic discipline of history.