The International Olympic Committee currently stipulates that Olympic winter sports must be conducted on snow or ice, according to the Olympic Charter. However, recent discussions suggest this criterion may evolve to allow new sports, potentially expanding the Winter Games program beyond its conventional boundaries.
Current Olympic regulations, specifically Article 6.2 of the Olympic Charter, maintain that only sports practiced on snow or ice qualify as winter sports. Yet, under the leadership of IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who took office in June, there has been a strategic move to assess and redefine the Olympic sports programs for both the Summer and Winter Games. Coventry launched the "Fit For The Future" initiative, which includes four dedicated working groups tasked with reviewing the addition and removal of sports in a transparent manner, considering the potential crossover of traditional summer or winter sports.
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina feature 116 medal events, a fraction of the over 350 medal events expected at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, signaling room for diversification in the winter program. Several sports on the periphery of the Summer Games—such as flying disc and emerging winter-suitable events like snow volleyball—are eyeing inclusion in future Winter Games, potentially easing the congestion of the Summer schedule.
Prominent sports federations for track and field and cycling, led respectively by Sebastian Coe and David Lappartient, have proposed incorporating cross-country running and cyclocross into the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps. These muddy, outdoor events typically associated with summer seasons have garnered interest due to their potential to diversify participation and showcase athletes from underrepresented regions, such as Africa, which rarely secures winter Olympic medals.
The 2030 Olympic bid, concentrated around areas like La Planche des Belles Filles—a well-known cycling route featured in the Tour de France—has attracted support from elite cyclists, including four-time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel, a seven-time cyclocross world champion. Their involvement aims to bolster the credibility of these proposed sports additions.
Snow volleyball has also been highlighted as a viable new winter sport. It was demonstrated during the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, providing IOC members firsthand experience. Fabio Azevedo, president of the International Volleyball Federation, supports its inclusion, noting the sport's specially designed equipment for snow conditions and its ability to bring competitive opportunities to countries with strong beach volleyball traditions but limited winter sports exposure, such as Brazil and African nations.
Meanwhile, the flying disc community has expressed openness to adapting their sport for Winter Games facilities, which may include indoor halls with parquet flooring. Robert Rauch, president of the World Flying Disc Federation, indicated that the sport's versatility could accommodate winter Olympic needs.
However, not all stakeholders share enthusiasm for expanding the Winter Olympics beyond snow and ice sports. The Winter Olympic Federations—a collective body representing traditional disciplines like skiing, skating, biathlon, curling, luge, bobsled, and skeleton—have voiced concerns that such expansion could damage the unique identity and heritage of the Winter Games. This sentiment was echoed by Max Cobb, American secretary general of the International Biathlon Union, who questioned the popularity and suitability of proposed sports such as cross-country running and cyclocross for inclusion in the Winter Games, noting their absence from the Summer Olympic program despite their widespread appeal.
Regarding procedural matters, amendments to the Olympic Charter can only be made during the IOC’s annual meeting, known as the IOC Session, rather than immediately before or during the Games themselves. In December, at the Milan Cortina Games, IOC Vice President Pierre-Olivier Beckers indicated that further deliberation is needed, with decisions on the 2030 Winter Olympics sports program expected no sooner than the executive board meeting scheduled for June. He underscored the necessity for thorough evaluation of proposed sports additions, indicating a cautious and deliberate approach to any changes.
This ongoing review highlights the Olympic Movement’s challenge of balancing tradition with innovation, athlete representation, and the logistical considerations inherent in hosting international multi-sport events. Whether the Winter Olympic program will expand to embrace new sporting disciplines beyond the icy and snowy realm remains to be decided in the coming years.