Sebastian Coe is advocating for the reintroduction of a cross-country running race at the 2030 Winter Olympics. As the president of World Athletics, Coe has long pushed for the event’s inclusion in the Olympics. He mentioned that the new International Olympic Committee president, Kirsty Coventry, is open to exploring new ideas, creating a collaborative atmosphere.
Coe expressed his interest in bringing back cross-country running either at the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps or possibly in Salt Lake City in the following years. The sport was last featured in the Summer Olympics until 1924, when it was removed due to extreme weather conditions. Moving it to the Winter Games would mitigate such challenges and offer more opportunities for diverse countries, particularly African nations.
Highlighting the need for inclusivity, Coe emphasized that the Winter Games currently lack representation from African nations, and incorporating cross-country running could address this gap. To facilitate the sport’s return, Coe suggested a simple amendment to the Olympic charter to allow winter sports to be eligible for inclusion.
Coe’s involvement in the IOC’s Olympic program working group positions him well to influence decisions regarding the event’s size and the inclusion of sports. Looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Coe supports the plan to schedule track events in the first week of the Games. He recalled his own success at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, where he set a Games record and won a gold medal in the 1,500 meters.
In other news, a new event named RUN X was recently announced, featuring a world treadmill championship with qualifying rounds leading to a live final. Coe highlighted the event’s focus on technology and global running community engagement. Additionally, he expressed excitement for the upcoming Ultimate Championships in Budapest, Hungary, which will showcase top champions over three evening sessions.
Coe underlined World Athletics’ commitment to the host city by allocating all ticket sales and sponsorships to them, emphasizing the importance of local engagement and support for the success of the event.
