FINALLY! Cyclocross will become an Olympic winter sport in 2030!

[Wyndbrook]

Personally I could not care a toot if should or shouldn't be included based on whatever criteria.
if it is that's fantastic.
In the UK the younger age groups in cross are thriving. Olympic status and consequent exposure will be a big boost.
It will open the door to lottery provided funding and improved opportunities including coaching, more trips to race in Europen mainland, talent identicication, general financial support for young potential selections.
Bring it on.

Cross country running was an Olympic sport, last held in 1924 summer Olympics in Paris.
Was removed to to local pollution and extreme heat causing most competitors to drop out.
Much more suited to winter conditions. I've raced many times in snowy races in the past.

 

[ManicJack]

I'll believe it when it is announced.

 

[Sciatic]

so rugby, football, hockey, even road race cycling.

I'm not quite sure what the big debate is: I suggested that some people might consider this to be a breaking with a tradition/sporting culture that they consider important, but none of us, least of all me, is invested in that mindset.

Any new sport where the winner is determined by time, height, or distance is more valid than a new sport based on judging. (I would grandmother in the older sports that use judging like figure skating). To me the most ridiculous is aerials. Yeah it’s on snow—but the competitors hardly have to be able to make turn on skis—it’s just gymnastics or diving and ability to stick a landing. Aerials as part of moguls-skiing works okay because the folks doing it are experts skiers. So to my mind they’ve already stretched what can be considered a winter sport.

But I shouldn’t care that much anyways—since I would rather the Olympics collapse and the pinnacle of sport be at individual world championships.

 

[ManicJack]

I just got off a conference call with individuals that would know a bit more about this possibility than myself. Their understanding is that the IOC has made some changes to the process of adding a sport to the Olympics. For a sport to be permanently added it has to be widely participated in 75 countries for summer and 40 for winter, meaning that there would have to be that many NGOs supporting it. If that criteria isn't met it has to be run as a test event in the Games prior to the Games that medals are awarded. HERE IS THE BIG CHANGE. Starting with Paris 2024 the host nation can add up to three sports of their choice for a ONE time inclusion in the Games. Their understanding is that this is why we are seeing artistic bmx and break dancing for example and will possibly never see them again, but the IOC could consider the one time inclusion the same as a test event and unilaterally add it permanently.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I just got off a conference call with individuals that would know a bit more about this possibility than myself. Their understanding is that the IOC has made some changes to the process of adding a sport to the Olympics. For a sport to be permanently added it has to be widely participated in 75 countries for summer and 40 for winter, meaning that there would have to be that many NGOs supporting it. If that criteria isn't met it has to be run as a test event in the Games prior to the Games that medals are awarded. HERE IS THE BIG CHANGE. Starting with Paris 2024 the host nation can add up to three sports of their choice for a ONE time inclusion in the Games. Their understanding is that this is why we are seeing artistic bmx and break dancing for example and will possibly never see them again, but the IOC could consider the one time inclusion the same as a test event and unilaterally add it permanently.

Thanks.

As for the sports to be widely participated in 40 countries, i'm eager to hear in which 40 countries for instance skijumping is widely practiced. I think this is again the question of the chicken and the egg. A lot of these sports became popular because they were at the OG. Not the other way around.

 

[ManicJack]

Thanks.

As for the sports to be widely participated in 40 countries, i'm eager to hear in which 40 countries for instance skijumping is widely practiced. I think this is again the question of the chicken and the egg. A lot of these sports became popular because they were at the OG. Not the other way around.

Yeah, the 40 number obviously came into play much more recently. The real relevance of my post was to say CX could very well be a one time thing.

 

[noob]

Exactly. When winter and snow are required, you basically limit yourself to a small portion of the world to hold the event. You exclude so many athletes that don't have the opportunity to sport in/on snow or ice. And the way things are going, in a few decades you can simply scratch the entire winter OG because there won't be any snow left.

Snow >>>>> olympics

 

[Black Betsy]

Time for new heights for the prices of "gravel" bikes and for shimano to change again the standard for its 15speed cassette

 

[jono]

This old song again: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...oss-could-be-added-to-winter-olympics-by-2030

That said, tying their fortunes in with cross-country running, a far more popular and global sport, can't hurt.

CX isn't a great fit in either summer or winter Olympics, but getting in would be a boon for athletes and the growth of the sport outside of Belgium and the Netherlands.

 

[noob]

This old song again: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...oss-could-be-added-to-winter-olympics-by-2030

That said, tying their fortunes in with cross-country running, a far more popular and global sport, can't hurt.

CX isn't a great fit in either summer or winter Olympics, but getting in would be a boon for athletes and the growth of the sport outside of Belgium and the Netherlands.

"Global sport" is a word. It rarely means it's actually global.

 

[jono]

"Global sport" is a word. It rarely means it's actually global.

There are more people and on more continents that take cross-country running seriously, which is what I meant.

 

[Barkintheeye]

Thanks.

As for the sports to be widely participated in 40 countries, i'm eager to hear in which 40 countries for instance skijumping is widely practiced. I think this is again the question of the chicken and the egg. A lot of these sports became popular because they were at the OG. Not the other way around.

Exactly that. Bobsleigh, skeleton, moguls, curling, Nordic combined, ... and the list goes on. I'd say none of these sports can ever be considered "widely participated" and maybe not even ice hockey, speed skating etc.

 

[RedheadDane]

"Global sport" is a word. It rarely means it's actually global.

Not to be pedantic, but it's actually two words.

 

[noob]

Not to be pedantic, but it's actually two words.

well catched!

 

[theyoungest]

This old song again: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...oss-could-be-added-to-winter-olympics-by-2030

That said, tying their fortunes in with cross-country running, a far more popular and global sport, can't hurt.

CX isn't a great fit in either summer or winter Olympics, but getting in would be a boon for athletes and the growth of the sport outside of Belgium and the Netherlands.

Is it? I suppose it's more global because athletes from more countries participate, but is it really that popular? I doubt a lot of people could tell you who the current world champion is in cross-country running...

Men's cyclocross really is an all-Belgian affair with the odd Dutch, British, or French athlete showing up, but at least the Belgians will show up in massive numbers should cyclocross become an Olympic sport. I don't know if cross-country running will generate the same passion.

 

[red_flanders]

I dig CX, but the Olympics hasn't gotten better with the incredible proliferation of events. Don't see any need for such a niche sport to be an Olympic event.

 

[jono]

Is it? I suppose it's more global because athletes from more countries participate, but is it really that popular? I doubt a lot of people could tell you who the current world champion is in cross-country running...

It's not just about the popularity of the sport at the elite level. Cross-country running is a massive (ie: widely participated) competitive sport in high school and college in the US. I don't live in Europe but I know of some countries with a decent tradition in the sport.

Most people will at the very least be able to tell you what it is, even if they don't know which east African is currently world champion. You will likely find someone from at least 4 continents in the top 30 of their WCs, which you can rarely say for cross.

 

[theyoungest]

It's not just about the popularity of the sport at the elite level. Cross-country running is a massive (ie: widely participated) competitive sport in high school and college in the US. I don't live in Europe but I know of some countries with a decent tradition in the sport.

Most people will at the very least be able to tell you what it is, even if they don't know which east African is currently world champion. You will likely find someone from at least 4 continents in the top 30 of their WCs, which you can rarely say for cross.

Maybe lots of people do it or can explain what it is (the concept is also rather simple, and it can be done everywhere) but I'm talking about the general public watching it on the sidelines or on tv. I don't know if cyclocross will become an Olympic sport on the coattails of cross country running, like the latter is some massive sport taking its little cousin under its wing.

I dig CX, but the Olympics hasn't gotten better with the incredible proliferation of events. Don't see any need for such a niche sport to be an Olympic event.

There's a lot of niche events at the Winter Olympics... why do you think Norway (population: 5 million) can top the medal table. It's not because these sports are so widely practiced.

 

[red_flanders]

Maybe lots of people do it or can explain what it is (the concept is also rather simple, and it can be done everywhere) but I'm talking about the general public watching it on the sidelines or on tv. I don't know if cyclocross will become an Olympic sport on the coattails of cross country running, like the latter is some massive sport taking its little cousin under its wing.


There's a lot of niche events at the Winter Olympics... why do you think Norway (population: 5 million) can top the medal table. It's not because these sports are so widely practiced.

Fair. My comments are mostly in regard to the summer games.

But you also gotta admit that CX is a stretch as a "Winter" sport. It is not one of the many forms of the controlled slide, which defines the Winter Olympics. It's a sport scheduled into a calendar during the winter because that's when it fits.