Cross-country running and cyclocross have a good chance of being added to the 2030 Winter Olympics in France, Sebastian Coe has predicted, as part of what could be the biggest overhaul of the Games in a generation.
Coe also confirmed that switching some indoor sports – such as judo – to future Winter Games was on the table as part of the International Olympic Committee’s new “fit for the future” plans, designed to keep the Games relevant.
The World Athletics president has long argued for cross-country’s inclusion in the Olympics. But the willingness of the new IOC president, Kirsty Coventry, to explore new ways of doing things, and the support of the UCI president, David Lappartient, has left him increasingly optimistic it will get the go-ahead.
“I think there’s a good chance it’ll happen,” said Coe. “And I think it’s come at the right moment, because Kirsty is certainly prepared to think differently about the programme, and what could go out of the stadium, and that mix between winter and summer.”
Coe said that there was already a provisional plan in place for the cross-country and cyclocross events to be staged on the same course in the French Alps.
“It’s come out of a conversation I’ve had with David in cycling,” said Coe. “I’ve always wanted to see cross-country back in for all sorts of reasons. Some are emotional. But it also gives Africa a proper presence in the Winter Games, which, if we are being honest about it, it doesn’t really have.
“And sharing the same course in 2030 with cyclocross is really where our thinking is going. We’ve already had good conversations.”
“David’s up for it. I’m up for it. Obviously with the IOC there would have to be a variation in the charter, because it has to be with snow and ice, and there’s not been an obvious abundance of that recently. But it is, ostensibly, a winter sport, and cross-country would make more sense in the winter.”
Coe’s comments carry added weight given he sits on the IOC’s new Olympic programme working group, which has been tasked with looking at the size of the Games, ways for sports to be added or removed, and whether traditional summer or winter sports could cross over.
“Kirsty has asked a few of us to look at various aspects of turbo-charging some of this stuff,” said Coe. “And some quite big decisions have to be made next year.”
Coe confirmed that they include whether to stage some indoor sports in the Winter Games, rather than the summer, as has been traditional.
“I’m a great judo fan,” said Coe. “I go to the big slam in Paris in February. If you’ve got indoor facilities and indoor sports, you could certainly mix them up. There’s no reason why not. It’s going to take a different model. It’s going to take a different broadcast revenue split, all those things. But I think those are all now on the table, which is a good thing.”
after newsletter promotion
Coe also revealed that he was in talks with Los Angeles about staging some track and field events outside the main Olympic Stadium at the 2028 Summer Games.
“I want to see more events out of the stadium,” said Coe. “I had this discussion with the new IOC sports director, Pierre Ducrey, the other day, and I said: ‘Look, we are very open to this.’
Coe pointed to the fact that 8,000 fans had been enthralled by watching field events in front of the Opera House in Zurich at the recent Diamond League final as showing proof of concept.
“We wanted to see more of our events outside of the stadium in Paris. They were keen at first, and then, I think they looked at the cost and all sorts of things. But if you do it properly, I think it’s additive, I really do. And I know LA is more open to taking some of our disciplines outside of the stadium.”
