Nordic Combined Dropped from 2030 Olympics as Freeride Included
7th July 2026
Nordic Combined was at the first Winter Olympics in Chamonix in 1924. Freeride emerged as a sport in the 1990s. NEW
Nordic Combined sees athletes ski jump and take part in cross-country skiing.
It has a long and rich tradition, but the International Olympic Committee has decided that times move on and it is time to make way for other snowsport disciplines.
Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom was also under threat of being dropped but it has been retained.
We reported on the considerations earlier on PlanetSKI.
“Nordic Combined has been a part of the Olympic Winter Games since the very first edition, in 1924, and is a cornerstone of Nordic skiing across all levels, especially in terms of athlete development,” said the new President of the International Ski & Snowboard Federation, Alexander Ospelt.
“Not only that, but it is also a discipline that has been observing clear and tangible growth and an ever-broader international participation over the last few years thanks to the inclusion of women’s competitions.
“This is a very hard decision for FIS and for our National Ski Associations.”
President Ospelt and interim Secretary General, Urs Lehmann, were prompt in reassuring that FIS stands alongside Nordic Combined and its future ─ in FIS competitions and beyond.
Freeride has experienced rapid international growth, benefitting from a strong youth fanbase and is a visually spectacular competition.
It uses a natural mountain side with Nature’s snow which minimises its environmental impact.
There will be four freeride events:
- Men’s Ski
- Womem’s Ski
- Mens’s Snowboard
- Women’s Snowboard
22 men and 22 women will compete at the Olympic Games for the first time.
Freeride World Championships 2026. Image c/o FWCH26 & DDAHER
It is just a few months after the successful delivery of the maiden FIS Freeride World Championships, in Andorra.
It is 34 years after the establishment of its first competitive event, the Xtreme Verbier in 1996.
Bec des Rosses, Xtreme Verbier. Image © Freeride World Tour/Lévy Loye
At PlanetSKI we have been following its bid for Olympic inclusion closely over the years.
Chief reporter, Jane Peel, was at the FWT in Baqueira Beret in Spain last season:
xxx
“It’s a moment of joy for the entire freeride community, and the result of three decades of commitment and dedication alongside an incredible team, ” said the Founder and CEO of FIS Freeride World Tour, Nicolas Hale-Woods.
“My first thoughts go to the riders, from those who first believed in this discipline and helped build it, to the young athletes who can now dream of an Olympic medal.
“I think too of the organizers and everyone who has grown this sport over the years, and of all the partners who trusted us throughout the journey.”
The Freeride World Tour now counts on more than 10,000 licensed riders worldwide and more than 300 annual competitions across four continents.
“It is clear why Freeride’s combination of raw excitement on a stunning natural terrain is an appealing addition to the Games,” said the FIS President, Alexander Ospelt.
“Above and beyond that, Freeride is a success story on the development level: within a couple of decades, the discipline created a structured pathway for athletes to compete, from the junior level all the way to the elite.”
The discipline and event changes introduced for Alpes 2030 concern four sports:
Biathlon:
- Mixed singles relay (event)
Skating:
- Figure skating: synchro9 (event)
- Speed skating: men’s team sprint and women’s team sprint (events)
Ski and snowboard:
- Freeride (discipline) with men’s ski, men’s snowboard, women’s ski, women’s snowboard (events)
- Freestyle skiing: mixed team ski cross (event)
- Snowboard: mixed team snowboard parallel (event)
- Ski jumping: women’s super team (event)
- Removal of Nordic combined (discipline)
Ski mountaineering, that was proposed by the FrenchAlps 2030 Organising Committee after its successful introduction at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games.
- Individual (discipline): men’s individual and women’s individual (events)
- Sprint (discipline): men’s sprint, women’s sprint and mixed relay (events)
The growing sport of Ski Mountaineering. Image © PlanetSKI
The full event programme is available here.
Athlete quotas have also been adjusted across several sports and disciplines, with the overall quota set at 3,046 athletes, comprising 1,525 female athletes and 1,521 male athletes.
Across most of the popularity indicators, Nordic combined ranked lowest among all Olympic Winter Games disciplines at Sochi 2014, PyeongChang 2018, Beijing 2022 and Milano Cortina 2026.
At the most recent Olympic Winter Games, it was the lowest-ranked discipline in 11 of the 14 popularity indicators assessed.
Nordic combined will remain on the programme of the Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 Winter Youth Olympic Games.
It remains eligible for future inclusion at the Utah 2034 Olympic Winter Games through the candidate discipline pathway under the established evaluation process.
Related Articles:
PlanetSKI: Number 1 for digital ski news
Your digital platform for ski news, resort information, travel, equipment rental, sport, money saving deals and everything connected with snowsports – web site, social media & more.
