Winter sports federations oppose summer sports’ inclusion in their Games
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The IOC has raised the alarm regarding the Winter Games amid global climate change.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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BERLIN – The Winter Olympic Federations (WOF) on Nov 12 said they opposed any proposals to include summer sports in the Winter Games, as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) considers how to keep the global multi-sport event attractive.
The IOC in September set up the Olympic Programme working group as part of its Fit for the Future process to review Olympic Games sports programmes, saying also there could be a crossover of summer and winter disciplines.
“Winter Olympic Federations believe, however, that the future of the Olympic Winter Games is not better served by piecemeal proposals, such as the inclusion of Summer IF’s (international federations’) non-Olympic disciplines into the Olympic Winter Games,” the WOF said in a statement.
“The Winter Olympic Federations are firm in our belief that such an approach would dilute the brand, heritage and identity that make the Olympic Winter Games unique – a celebration of sports practised on snow and ice, with distinct culture, athletes and fields of play.”
The WOF include the International Biathlon Union, International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation, International Ice Hockey Federation, International Luge Federation, International Skating Union, International Ski and Snowboard Federation, as well as the World Curling Federation.
The IOC has raised the alarm regarding the Winter Games amid global climate change.
A study it commissioned recently highlighted the danger of climate change for the event, with the number of potential hosts projected to drop in the future due to irregular snowfall and a temperature rise.
The IOC has also considered potentially rotating future Winter Olympics among a list of locations.
The introduction of some summer sports in the Winter Olympics is seen as potentially giving the Games a promotional boost and a wider audience.
“Innovation should focus on evolving existing winter sports to attract broader participation and audiences while enhancing the appeal of the Olympic Winter Games,” said Ivo Ferriani, president of the WOF and an IOC executive board member.
He cited ski mountaineering, which “is born from authentic winter environments and emblematic of the continued development of winter sports”, as a successful example.
The next Winter Games will be held from Feb 6-22, 2026 in Milan and the Cortina d’Ampezzo region in north Italy.
France will host the 2030 edition, while Salt Lake City in the United States has been picked to stage the 2034 Games. REUTERS
