Cross-country running and cyclocross can be added to the Winter Olympics by 2030

Cross-country walking and cyclocross have a good chance of being added to the 2030 Winter Games in France, Sebastian Coe has predicted, as part of what could be the biggest overhaul of the Olympic Games in a generation.

The World Athletics President also confirmed that the transfer of some indoor sports – such as Judo – to future Winter Games was on the table as part of the new “Fit for the Future” plans of the International Olympic Committee, designed to keep the games relevant.

Lord Coe has long argued for the recording of cross-country in the Olympic Games, but the willingness of the new IOC president, Kirsty Coventry, to explore new ways to do things, and the support of the UCI president, David Lappartient, has always left him optimistically.

“I think there is a good chance that it will happen,” said Coe. “And I think it came at the right time, because Kirsty is certainly willing to think differently about the program, and what could go out of the stadium, and that mix between winter and summer.”

Coe said that there was already a provisional plan for the Cross-Country and Cyclocross events to be performed on the same course in the French Alps. “It originated from a conversation I had with David in bicycles,” said Coe.

“I have always wanted to see again for all sorts of reasons. Some are emotional. But it also gives Africa a good presence in the Winter Games, which, if we are honest, it doesn’t really have.

“And sharing the same course in 2030 with Cyclocross is really where our thinking is going. We have already had good conversations.

“David is ready. I am ready. It is clear that there should be a variation in the charter with the IOC, because it should be snow and ice, and there has recently been no clear abundance of it. But it is apparently a winter sports and cross-country would be more logical in the winter.”

The comments of COE bear weight, since it is on the new Olympic program working group of the IOC, which has the task of looking at the size of the games, ways for the added or removed of sports, and whether traditional summer or winter sports can cross.

“Kirsty has asked some of us to look at different aspects of turbo charging some of these things,” said Coe. “And some major decisions must be made next year.”

COE confirmed that they include whether they should organize some indoor sports in the winter instead of summer games as traditional. “I am a great judo fan,” said Coe.

“I will go to the big slam in Paris in February. If you have indoor facilities and indoor sports, you could certainly confuse them.

Coe also revealed that he was talking to Los Angeles about organizing a few track and field events outside the most important Olympic stadium during the Summer Games 2028. “I want to see more events from the stadium,” said Coe. “I had this discussion with the new IOC Sports Director, Pierre Ducrey, recently, and I said,” Look, we are very open to this. “

Coe pointed to the fact that 8,000 fans were fascinated by viewing field events for the Opera House in Zurich during the recent Diamond League final as proof of concept. “We wanted to see more of our events outside the Stadium in Paris. They were enthusiastic in the beginning, and then I think they looked at the costs and all kinds of things. But if you do it right, I think it is additive, I really do. And I know that La is more open to taking part of our disciplines outside the stadium.”