Nordic combination in crisis: Is the end of the tradition coming?

Nordic combination in crisis: Is the end of the tradition coming?

The Nordic combined, a traditional discipline, is worried about its future. At the 2026 Olympic Games in Italy, the combination will once again be the only competition without women, which is met with strong criticism in the sports community. Against the background of worrying spectator interest and the dominant Norwegians, the central question now arises: Will this traditional sport continue into the Olympic future or is it threatened with extinction? How laola1.at reported, a decision could be made as early as summer about the Nordic Combined's participation in the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps. The crucial point will be whether the IOC includes women in the competition program.

The current situation is precarious: Nordic combined could be removed from the Olympic program after 102 years. The Norwegian double world champion Gyda Westvold Hansen, who is vehemently committed to the integration of women, makes it clear that it is time to include women in the medal fight. This became clear at the Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim, where the lack of female athletes caused discontent. At the same time, male dominator Jarl Magnus Riiber, whose career is about to end, expressed concerns about the future of the sport. “Canceling the combination would destroy ski jumping and cross-country skiing a little,” warned Riiber.

The challenges of standards

In addition, Nordic Combined is faced with other challenges, such as: sueddeutsche.de notes. There is currently a lack of a broad international group of participants, which has a negative impact on the attractiveness of the competitions. At the World Championships in Norway, crowds were particularly strong for the cross-country skiing events, while the Nordic combined lagged behind. FIS race director Lasse Ottesen noted that not enough nations are yet able to compete in the team competition, further endangering the future of the discipline.

Could the IOC's decision in the summer bring about a turning point? Or will we truly see the end of an era? While the athletes prepare for the upcoming competitions, the entire Nordic combined remains in limbo and is at the crossroads of its Olympic existence.