Nordic combination in the crisis: is the end of tradition?

Nordic combination in the crisis: is the end of tradition?

The Nordic combination, a traditional discipline, tremble for their future. At the 2026 Olympic Games in Italy, the combination will once again be the only competition without women, which has met with violent criticism in the sports community. Against the background of a worrying audience interest and the dominant Norwegians, the central question now arises: Will this traditional sport go to the Olympic Future or does that face you? As laola1.at , a decision on the Nordic combination in the Winter 2030 could be made in the French Alps. The crucial point will be whether the IOC will accept women in the competition program.

The current situation is precarious: the Nordic combination could be deleted from the Olympic program after 102 years. The Norwegian double world champion Gyda Westvold Hansen, who vehemently campaigns for the integration of women, illustrates that it is time to accept women in medal fight. This became clear at the Nordic Ski World Cup in Trondheim, where the lack of female athletes caused resentment. At the same time, the male dominator Jarl Magnus Riiber, whose career ends soon, expressed concerns about the future of the sport. "The cancellation of the combination would destroy ski jumping and cross -country skiing a little," warned Riiber.

The challenges of the standards

In addition, however, the Nordic combination is confronted with further challenges, as the sueddeutsche.de . There is currently a lack of a broad international participant, which has a negative impact on the attractiveness of the competitions. At the World Cup in Norway, the amount of spectators was particularly represented by cross-country competitions, while the Nordic combination horn afterwards. FIS racing director Lasse Ottesen found that enough nations can not yet compete in the team competition, which further endangers the future of the discipline.

Could the decision of the IOC bring the turn in summer? Or will we literally experience the end of an era? While the athletes are preparing for the upcoming competitions, the entire Nordic combination remains in the balance and stands on the crossroads of their Olympic existence.