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The new president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Kirsty Coventry, formed a sub-committee to boost the Olympic event program. She is looking to add cross-country to the Winter Olympic Games, among other events.
The 10-member committee includes World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, who, during his tenure, has been in favour of adding cross-country to the Olympics.
Coventry would also like to add cyclocross. Judo is also being considered.
“I think the timing is right because Kirsty is truly willing to think differently about the program and what could take place outside the stadium, as well as the mix between winter and summer sports,” said Coe.
Cross-country has not been included in the Olympic Games for over 100 years. It was first run in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1912. Cross country was also included in the 1920 and 1924 Games.
Cross-country was cancelled from the Olympic program due to hot weather during the 1924 Paris Games.
“I think it’s a really important part of developing our endurance athletes. It also gives Africa a proper presence at the Winter Olympics, which it currently lacks. Sharing the same course with cyclo-cross in 2030 is exactly where our thinking is going. We’ve already had good conversations,” said Coe.
Adding cross-country to the Winter program would make most sense as the event was created during the 1800s in Great Britain during the winter, and now nations in the northern hemisphere expect cross-country to be run in late fall, winter and early spring conditions.
The event will add viewers to the winter program that typically do not watch winter-based sports. Athletics is already a major portion of the summer program and, therefore, will likely not bring in as many new spectators. Adding cross-country to the Winter Olympics would be good for the Winter Olympic Games and the discipline of cross-country.
If the IOC wants to continue to be relevant and experience growth, certainly cross-country and cyclocross would be excellent additions.
