Winter games 2030: No beard, no Olympics? Combination fights for survival

The Nordic combination has no plan B. If the athletes are doing their jobs at the federal police or their duties at school this summer, officials of the IOC will make a significant decision on their future. Is the traditional sport on ski jump and cross -country ski runs in the 2030 – or 101 -year Olympic history end with a bang since 1924?

“The cancellation of the combination would destroy ski jumping and the cross -country skiing a little,” said world champion Jarl Magnus Riiber, referring to the decision. After the IOC for the 2026 Olympics had only granted three competitions for the men, the combination at the winter games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo is the last remaining sport without women at the start.

The following applies to 2030: completely or not at all

“We were all so shocked. We are in the 21st century, actually equality should no longer be an issue that you have to discuss. So this decision makes me so angry,” said Nathalie Armbruster, who is the German face of the combiners at the age of 19, in the “current sports studio” of the ZDF. Armbruster is graduating from school this year. But more important than a 1 Series Abitur, the World Cup silver winner is admission to the winter games, as she answered without hesitation.

There are actually only two options for France 2030: completely or not at all. The combination threatens to disappear when the Olympic bosses lower their thumb. “Of course we will inquire for both genders – the rest is at the IOC. Only admit the men would contradict their fundamental criteria,” said Sandra Spitz, who is responsible for sports and events.

Exact program should be in 2026

At the World Ski Association, they are responsible for around 50 percent of the decisions in the winter games. The combination enjoyed “priority one”, the association in Trondheim clarified. The FIS emphasizes the constant exchange and the good conversations with the IOC. France, which as an Olympic host has a certain say in the disciplines, is considered the clear supporter of the combination.

The basic disciplines will be decided this summer. The exact program is to be determined next year, even if the impressions of the winter games are included in Italy. The combination has had three Olympic decisions since 2002. If the approval succeeds, it should result in women and men each get an individual – and both together an additional mixed.

Horst Hüttel, sports director of the German Ski Association (DSV), said in Trondheim: “It is a bit of a black box how exactly. You can only ski jumping where ski jumps are only where you can go where toboggan runs are. The combination shows that in times of climate change it takes a ski jump and sufficient snow: a sport of the future is not the combination.

No gender equality at the World Cup

The IOC recently led to the central points that speak against the combination: an excessive performance density in the top and too small number of spectators. Both arguments could not really invalidate the combiners in Trondheim. Norway, Germany, Japan and Austria have been making all major event medals among themselves for years. The ranks in the granases skier were properly filled – the big Nordic party took place with the cross -country ski specialists.

The gender equality that the FIS wants to apply for for 2030 Olympics does not adhere to this World Cup itself. “At the moment we have not yet had enough nations that can compete in a team competition,” said race director Lasse Ottesen with a view of the women. The mixed introduced in 2023 ran similarly at both world championships: Norway made rounds at the top, Germany circled lonely behind it. The only voltage factor: Does Austria or Japan win bronze behind it? It wasn’t really advertising.

The combiners mobilize with all its might against injustice. World champion Gyda Westvold Hansen from Norway once painted black lines on the face with a felt pen and commented: “It is absurd that you have to have a beard to start at the Olympics.” In the worst case, this will soon no longer be enough.