Plans spearheaded by Lord Sebastian Coe to introduce cross-country running to the Winter Olympics are meeting with fierce and vocal resistance from the established snow and ice sports community. The controversial proposals have been branded a direct threat to the very essence of the winter Games.
Winter Federations Mount Fiery Defence
In a strongly-worded statement released on Wednesday, the powerful collective of Winter Olympic Federations launched a withering attack on the initiative. World Athletics president Coe has been actively lobbying for the discipline to be added to the quadrennial winter showpiece, potentially as early as the 2030 Games. This move runs parallel to separate efforts within cycling to find a higher-profile Olympic home for cyclo-cross.
These efforts, which Lord Coe reinforced earlier this month, coincide with a broader review of the Olympic movement being undertaken by the new International Olympic Committee president, Kirsty Coventry. However, the Winter Olympic Federations, which represent all the significant disciplines on the current programme, have emerged as a major roadblock.
The federations stated: "We applaud the IOC's efforts to continue to modernise the Games in order to engage new audiences. The 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 non-Olympic disciplines."
A Question of Brand and Heritage
The core of their argument centres on the unique identity of the Winter Olympics. They are firm in their belief that incorporating sports like cross-country running would dilute the brand, heritage, and identity that make the event unique. They describe the Games as a specific celebration of sports practised on snow and ice, with its own distinct culture, athletes, and fields of play.
Ivo Ferriani, the president of the Winter Olympic Federations, suggested an alternative path for innovation. He said, "Innovation should focus on evolving existing winter sports to attract broader participation and audiences while enhancing the appeal of the Olympic Winter Games." He pointed to the inclusion of Ski Mountaineering as a successful example of this philosophy, noting it is a discipline born from authentic winter environments.
According to a seasoned Olympics insider, it is considered highly unlikely that such a forceful statement from the winter bodies would have been published without at least the tacit knowledge of the IOC.
An Uphill Battle for a Historic Sport
Cross-country running itself has a sparse Olympic history, not having featured in the Summer Games since the 1924 Paris Olympics. Despite this, Lord Coe has recently brokered discussions on the matter with President Coventry, and there had been a degree of optimism that both cross-country running and cyclo-cross could eventually find acceptance into the Winter Olympic programme. This optimism is now facing a substantial challenge from the traditional guardians of the winter sports world.
