"Sebastian Coe, IOC member and the president of World Athletics, spearheaded the proposal to include these summer-related sports. In an interview with Britain's Guardian newspaper, Coe spoke about a provisional plan to include cross-country running and cyclocross in the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps. Coe has long been a proponent of including cross-country running in the Olympics, which has not been on the Olympic slate since the 1924 Games in Paris."
"Coe also noted that including a track and field event would give Africa a "proper presence in the Winter Olympics." Only eight African nations competed in the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, whereas over 30 competed in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. Despite Coe's optimism surrounding the proposal, IOC President Kirsty Coventry and other IOC leaders reportedly remain committed to the Olympic Charter."
"The charter states that "only those sports which are practiced on snow or ice are considered as winter sports." Winter sports federations did not take kindly to the proposed additions, releasing a statement describing the proposed additions as "piecemeal." They claimed this approach would "dilute the brand, heritage, and identity that make the Olympic Winter Games unique." This statement was supported by federations representing skiing, snowboarding, hockey, luge, skating, biathlon, and other winter sports."
"This opposition is not rooted solely in philosophy. Financial concerns also play a major role, as adding new sports changes how Olympic revenues are distributed among the federations. Adding the proposed sports would make World Athletics and the cycling"
A proposal to add cross-country running and cyclocross to the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps was advanced by Sebastian Coe. Cross-country running has not appeared since the 1924 Paris Games. Coe also suggested that adding a track and field event could increase Africa’s representation, noting fewer African nations competed in the 2026 Winter Olympics than in the 2024 Summer Olympics. IOC President Kirsty Coventry and other leaders reportedly remain committed to the Olympic Charter, which defines winter sports as those practiced on snow or ice. Winter sports federations opposed the additions, calling them piecemeal and warning they would dilute the Winter Games’ brand and identity, while also raising financial concerns about revenue distribution.
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