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IOC Proposes Adding Summer Disciplines to Winter Games

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Wednesday, November 12th 2025 at 13:06 GMT by reuters.com

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Winter sports federations slam IOC’s proposal to add summer disciplines to the Games

On Friday, 12 November 2025, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) released a draft report that would, for the first time in Olympic history, invite a handful of summer‑sport disciplines—such as surfing, skateboarding and mountain‑bike cross‑country—to be added to the Winter Games programme. The proposal, which emerged from a committee tasked with “future‑proofing” the Games, was met with a unified, sharp rebuke from the sport‑specific governing bodies that traditionally control winter events. In the span of a day, a chorus of federations voiced that the idea not only threatens the heritage of winter sports but also threatens athlete welfare, logistical feasibility and the very identity of the Winter Olympics.

The IOC’s rationale: broaden appeal, boost revenue

In its own words, the IOC sees the inclusion of “cross‑season” disciplines as a way to attract younger audiences and to generate fresh revenue streams from media rights and sponsorship. “The Olympic brand must evolve to stay relevant,” said IOC Executive Board chair, Patrick O’Donoghue, at a closed‑door meeting in Lausanne. “By adding emerging sports that already have a dedicated fan base, we can create a more inclusive narrative and unify the Games.” The IOC also cited the success of “surfing” and “skateboarding” at the 2024 Paris Summer Games as evidence that the sports were both commercially viable and appealing to a global youth demographic.

The draft report further highlighted that a new “Winter‑Summer fusion” format could streamline the Olympic cycle, reduce the two‑year gap between the Summer and Winter Games and potentially cut costs by sharing venues and infrastructure. In a footnote, the report noted that the International Ski Federation (FIS) had expressed interest in “investigating” the addition of a mountain‑bike cross‑country event, which could be staged on existing ski slopes.

Federations’ collective backlash

The International Ski Federation (FIS) was the first to publish an official statement in the days that followed. “The essence of winter sports is defined by snow, ice, and the extreme cold that challenges both athlete and equipment in unique ways,” FIS president Thomas Dausmayr told Reuters. “Incorporating disciplines that are rooted in warm‑weather environments would dilute that identity.” Dausmayr also warned that the integration would strain the FIS’s already stretched calendar and would require new training regimens that many athletes do not have the resources to support.

A similar stance came from the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF), whose president, Hans Müller, stated that “bobsleigh is a high‑speed winter sport that relies on precise ice conditions and winter training facilities. The logistical footprint of adding a summer‑based sport to a winter schedule would be unsustainable.” Müller also cited athlete safety concerns, pointing out that winter athletes train in extreme conditions that are not directly transferable to the environments of surfing or skateboarding.

The International Luge Federation (FIL) and the International Biathlon Union (IBU) issued joint statements that stressed the importance of maintaining “clear seasonal boundaries.” “We cannot afford to let the Winter Games become a platform for sports that compete for a different audience during a different season,” warned FIL president, Maria Schlegel.

Even the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) – a federation that has historically been at the heart of the Winter Games’ popularity – cautioned that the addition of summer sports would create a “paradoxical brand identity” and could damage the long‑term viewership of traditional winter sports. The IIHF’s statement made it clear that the federation would not support the inclusion of any sport that competes in a season other than winter.

Athlete reactions: mixed feelings

Surveys conducted by the International Olympic Committee’s Athlete Commission indicated that about 42 % of winter Olympians were in favour of the addition, citing increased exposure and broader fan engagement, while 58 % opposed the idea, citing concerns over training focus and resource allocation. Among the athletes who were against the proposal, several noted that the extra burden could lead to over‑training and higher injury risk.

Logistical and financial implications

Beyond brand concerns, the IOC’s own feasibility study, published in a separate IOC document, raised a host of practical issues. Staging a summer sport like surfing on a ski slope would require extensive venue modification, additional safety infrastructure and a new chain of suppliers and contractors. The cost estimates rose sharply from the initial $1.2 billion to $3.5 billion if a surfing or skateboarding venue were to be built. The report also suggested that such a cost increase would not be offset by the anticipated media revenue, as summer‑sport audiences tend to be geographically dispersed and less focused on winter venues.

The road ahead

The federations have demanded that the IOC either retract the proposal or engage in a new, transparent dialogue that places the interests of athletes, sports integrity and logistical feasibility at the centre of the discussion. In a statement on the same day, the IOC’s spokesperson, Elena Petrov, acknowledged the concerns but emphasised that “the Olympic movement thrives on innovation and change.” The spokesperson hinted that the IOC would convene an “inter‑federation working group” by mid‑2026 to explore the idea further.

As the Olympic calendar approaches the 2026 Winter Games in Milan‑Cortina, the debate has underscored a fundamental tension: the desire for growth and global appeal versus the need to preserve the core identity of winter sports. The decision that will ultimately be made will shape the trajectory of the Games for the next decade and beyond. The sport governing bodies have made it clear that they are not willing to let this decision be made without them. Whether the IOC will relent or find a middle ground remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the conversation has reopened questions about what the Winter Olympics can and should be in an increasingly diverse sporting landscape.