GENEVA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The International Ski Mountaineering Federation on Thursday welcomed a proposal by the International Olympic Committee to expand ski mountaineering's presence at the 2030 Olympic Winter Games in the French Alps.
The IOC Executive Board on Wednesday proposed including five ski mountaineering events in the 2030 Olympic program: men's individual, women's individual, men's sprint, women's sprint and mixed relay. The proposal will be submitted to the 146th IOC Session, scheduled for June 24-25.
"The announcement marks the next step in ski mountaineering's Olympic development, following its debut at Milano Cortina 2026, where 36 athletes competed in the men's sprint, women's sprint and mixed relay," the ISMF said in a statement.
"The proposed addition of the Individual event is the key evolution for French Alps 2030. It would bring endurance, technical terrain and a more complete and authentic representation of ski mountaineering to the Olympic program, alongside the speed of Sprint and the team dynamics of Mixed Relay."
ISMF President Regula Meier called the proposal "a major milestone" for the sport.
"Milano Cortina 2026 showed that our sport belongs on the Olympic Winter Games program and gave ski mountaineering visibility that our community has worked towards for many years," Meier said.
French Olympic medalist Emily Harrop said the prospect of competing at a home Games would be particularly meaningful.
"Milano Cortina 2026 was already a huge moment for our sport. To now imagine ski mountaineering at French Alps 2030 is very special," Harrop said.
"For French athletes, competing in an Olympic Winter Games at home would be something difficult to describe." ■
