The International Olympic Committee is considering removing Nordic combined from future Winter Olympics due to low TV viewership and limited national participation. At the Milan Cortina 2026 Games, Norway dominated all three events, including the men's team sprint on February 19. Athletes and officials urge the IOC to retain the sport, highlighting its excitement and recent progress in inclusivity.
Nordic combined events concluded at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Tesero, Italy, on February 19, marking potentially the last appearance for this blend of ski jumping and cross-country skiing. The sport, invented about 150 years ago by a Norwegian crown prince, has been part of the Winter Games since 1924 but remains the only winter discipline without women's events. Female competitors on the World Cup circuit have pushed for inclusion, though their prospects depend on the men's program surviving.
In the final event, the men's team sprint, Norway's Andreas Skoglund and Jens Luraas Oftebro secured gold, ahead of Finland's Eero Hirvonen and Ilkka Herola in silver, and Austria's Stefan Rettenegger and Johannes Lamparter in bronze. Norway claimed all three golds at these Games, with podiums limited to Norway, Austria, and Finland—excluding Germany and Japan, who led jumps in two races but faltered in skiing.
The IOC's review stems from modest TV audiences and dominance by a few nations, as seen in the past three Olympics where only Norway, Austria, Germany, and Japan medaled. FIS Nordic combined director Lasse Ottesen noted that while viewership grew slightly since 2018, it fell short of expectations. However, FIS met 2022 IOC benchmarks by expanding women's competitions and global media interest. Ticket sales were strong: the two individual events sold out 4,500 seats each, and 90% for the team sprint, though the venue's larger capacity made crowds appear sparse.
Athletes expressed hope for retention. Gold medalist Jens Luraas Oftebro said, “Hopefully these three events have been fun to watch and I think it has been a lot of nations fighting for their medals. Hopefully the IOC will see the value in that.” Czech competitor Jan Vytrval added, “Nordic combined is such a beautiful sport and I think it deserves much more popularity... It deserves much more than to be deleted from the Olympics.”
Finnish silver medalist Eero Hirvonen highlighted broader progress: “We have done our part with competing... I hope it helps.” Ottesen emphasized unity: “If it stays, it’s for both.” The IOC, which also eyes parallel giant slalom snowboarding, deferred a decision but plans to revisit post-Games on February 22. Past removals include tug-of-war, polo, and croquet from the early 1900s.
