Ski mountaineering has been officially included as an additional sport on the programme for the Alpes 2030 Olympic Winter Games. The decision was taken by the 146th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Lausanne.
This decision by the session follows a recommendation from the IOC Executive Board, based on a proposal submitted by the French Alps 2030 Organising Committee (OCOG) and reviewed by the IOC’s Olympic Programme Working Group (OPWG).
OPWG Chair Karl Stoss said: “We recognised the sport’s potential to add meaningful value to the programme, supported by its strong presence in Alpine regions, and its ability to enhance diversity, authenticity and appeal, while building on its growing Olympic momentum.
“The emphasis for the French Alps [OCOG] is on the individual discipline and its events, which they consider to best represent the core of the sport and the character of the Alps.”
Ski mountaineering made its Olympic programme debut as an additional sport proposed by the Organising Committee at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
In his report, Stoss highlighted the success of this Olympic debut, which Alpes 2030 can build upon: “The competition format delivered exciting head-to-head racing, even in challenging weather conditions – with strong engagement from spectators, a good atmosphere, a format that was easy to follow and observe, and clear competitive value.
“The OCOG also highlighted the sport’s youth appeal, distinct identity, and strong relevance to the Alpes 2030 context, supported by its continued growth in recent years.”
He stated that since ski mountaineering was added to the Olympic programme in 2021, the number of participating National Olympic Committees has increased by more than 45%, and the number of International Ski Mountaineering Federation registered athlete club members has more than doubled.
Image: International Olympic Committee (IOC)