Coe Pushes for Cross-Country at Winter Games

Sebastian Coe, the president of World Athletics, is leading an effort to introduce cross-country running to the Winter Olympics, with the goal of making the event at the 2030 Games in the French Alps or possibly at the 2034 Games in Salt Lake City.

Coe has been advocating for this change for years, and he believes the timing is now right. The new IOC president, Kirsty Coventry, has created a more collaborative atmosphere within the organization. "The new president is clear they want to put everything on the table at the moment," Coe told The Associated Press. "It's a very different atmosphere. It's very much how can we improve together rather than we'll tell you how to do it. She's blown some oxygen into the organization."

The proposal addresses a significant gap in Winter Olympic representation. Currently, the Winter Games feature sports that predominantly benefit countries with cold climates and winter sports infrastructure. This naturally excludes many nations, particularly those in Africa. However, African runners have long dominated distance running events. Adding cross-country running to the Winter Olympics could provide African countries with a genuine opportunity to compete for medals at the Winter Games.

Coe emphasized this point, stating, "Winter Games aren't African. It doesn't scream African. So I think it was a good opportunity."

Cross-country running has Olympic history, though not in winter. The sport was part of the Summer Olympics until 1924, when it was removed following the Paris Games. The decision came after runners suffered extreme exhaustion due to harsh heat and difficult course conditions. Moving the event to the Winter Olympics would eliminate these health concerns.

Implementing this change requires an amendment to the Olympic Charter. The modification would be straightforward, simply stating that sports practiced during winter would be eligible for inclusion in the Winter Games program. Coe's position on the IOC's new Olympic program working group gives him valuable influence in these discussions. The working group examines questions about Olympic size, sport additions and removals, and whether traditional summer or winter sports could cross over between seasons.

Beyond the Winter Olympics proposal, Coe discussed other developments in athletics. Track and field will move to the first week of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, starting the Games with what Coe calls "a big moment." He has fond memories of Los Angeles, having won the 1,500-meter gold medal there in 1984 while setting an Olympic record.

World Athletics is also launching new competitions. RUN X, a world treadmill championship, will feature qualifying 5K events leading to a championship final late next year. The Ultimate Championships will debut in Budapest next September, condensing world-class competition into three evening sessions specifically designed for television audiences.

Coe sees all these initiatives as part of a broader vision to grow the global running community and make athletics more accessible and exciting worldwide.