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Nordic Combined Faces Uncertain Olympic Future After Milan Cortina Games
As the final Nordic combined event concluded Thursday in Tesero, Italy, the historic Olympic sport now faces a precarious future. The International Olympic Committee is considering removing the 150-year-old discipline from future Winter Games, citing limited television audiences and medal dominance by a small group of nations.
The Milan Cortina Games may have inadvertently bolstered the case for elimination as Norway swept all three gold medals. Norwegian Jens Luraas Oftebro claimed three golds, including Thursday’s men’s team sprint alongside teammate Andreas Skoglund. Despite the Norwegian dominance, Oftebro remains hopeful about the sport’s Olympic prospects.
“Hopefully these three events have been fun to watch and I think it has been a lot of nations fighting for their medals,” Oftebro said after his final victory. “Hopefully the IOC will see the value in that.”
Nordic combined, which blends the technical precision of ski jumping with the endurance requirements of cross-country skiing, traces its origins to 19th century Norway. Competitors first perform a ski jump that determines their starting position for the subsequent cross-country race. The sport has featured in every Winter Olympics since the inaugural 1924 Games in Chamonix, France.
“Nordic combined is such a beautiful sport and I think it deserves much more popularity,” argued Czech competitor Jan Vytrval. “The races are really, really fun to watch and the athletes are doing amazing. It deserves much more than to be deleted from the Olympics.”
The sport currently finds itself at a crossroads regarding gender equity. Nordic combined remains the only Winter Olympic discipline without female participation, despite women competing regularly on the World Cup circuit and in world championships. Female athletes have campaigned vigorously for Olympic inclusion, but their fate is now tied to the sport’s overall survival.
Lasse Ottesen, Nordic combined director for the International Ski Federation (FIS), emphasized that any Olympic future must include both genders. “It makes no sense to say, ‘Yes, we’re just going to have the Nordic combined men in or, yes, we’re going to take the men out and we’re going to throw the women in.’ Why would anyone do that in these times?”
According to Ottesen, FIS has exceeded the benchmarks set by the IOC in 2022, expanding women’s competition and building global media interest. While audience numbers have grown slightly across the last three Olympics, the increase fell short of FIS expectations. Ticket sales for two of the three events in Milan Cortina reached capacity at 4,500, with the team event reaching 90% attendance, though Ottesen acknowledged the cross-country venue’s larger capacity made crowds appear “a little bit thinner.”
FIS President Johan Eliasch personally attended the February 11 normal hill event alongside IOC President Kirsty Coventry to showcase the sport’s excitement. IOC member Ingmar de Vos, who sits on the committee reviewing Nordic combined’s Olympic status, observed the large hill competition.
The IOC is also evaluating parallel giant slalom snowboarding to ensure it aligns with objectives of balance, youth appeal, and cost efficiency. If either sport is eliminated, they would join historic Olympic casualties like tug-of-war, polo, and croquet—all once featured in the early 20th century Games.
Recent Olympic history reflects the IOC’s concerns about competitive balance. Norway, Austria, Germany, and Japan have monopolized Nordic combined gold medals across the last three Winter Olympics. However, Finland’s emergence in Milan Cortina—securing two individual bronzes and a team silver—represents a potential broadening of the competitive field.
“We have done our part with competing,” said Finland’s Eero Hirvonen, who shared silver with teammate Ilkka Herola after a thrilling chase in Thursday’s team event. “We have had really interesting competitions here and I think all the attention with what our success and medals have got in Finland… I hope it helps.”
The IOC is expected to revisit the question of Nordic combined’s Olympic future after the Milan Cortina Games conclude on Sunday, potentially ending a century-long Olympic tradition or charting a new course that includes female competitors for the first time.
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7 Comments
Jens Luraas Oftebro’s comments about hoping the IOC sees the value in the competition are really insightful. Even with Norway’s dominance, it seems there is still good parity and excitement among the participating nations. I hope the IOC takes that into account as they evaluate the future of Nordic combined.
As someone who enjoys winter sports, I hope the IOC can find a way to keep Nordic combined in the Olympics. While the Norwegian dominance is remarkable, the sport still seems to have a dedicated following and showcases incredible athletic talent. I’m curious to see what solutions the IOC might consider.
It’s fascinating to see the debate around the future of Nordic combined at the Olympics. The sport has such a rich history, but declining viewership and medal dominance by a few nations pose challenges. I’m curious to see how the IOC weighs the value of tradition against broader audience appeal.
The Norwegian dominance in this event is really remarkable. While it’s great to see them excel, I can understand the IOC’s concerns about viewer interest if the competition isn’t more balanced. It will be interesting to see if they can find ways to keep Nordic combined in the Games while addressing those issues.
The potential loss of Nordic combined from the Winter Olympics is certainly a bittersweet prospect. On one hand, the sport’s rich history and the athletes’ remarkable skills are undeniable. But the IOC also has to consider the broader trends and viability. It’s a tough decision with valid arguments on both sides.
I’m torn on this one. On one hand, Nordic combined has such a storied tradition and showcases remarkable athletic ability. But the IOC also has to consider the broader appeal and viability of the event. It’s a tough balancing act, and I’ll be curious to see how they navigate this decision.
As someone who enjoys the technical mastery and endurance required in Nordic combined, I hope the IOC finds a way to preserve this historic winter sport. The athletes put in incredible dedication, and it would be a shame to see it disappear from the Olympic program. Perhaps format changes or other innovations could help boost viewership.