Ski Mountaineering Approved for French Alps 2030 Olympics, New Races Added

Ski mountaineering's (SkiMo) top athletes can now set their sights on the French Alps 2030 Olympic Winter Games. The sport made its successful Olympic debut at Milan-Cortina four months ago, in the Italian Alps.



Now, the next chapter awaits.



The International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved the French Alps 2030 proposal to include SkiMo as an additional sport, with two new individual races, at the next Winter Games.



Additionally, the total athlete quota has been doubled from 36 to 72 male and female athletes. Decisions were taken at the 146th IOC Session, in the Olympic capital of Lausanne, on Thursday, June 25, 2026.

Representing the French Alps 2030 organizing committee and highlighting the merits and value of the proposal were president Edgar Grospiron, executive director Vincent Roberti, and sport program director Mathilde Meurisse, prior to the IOC vote.



Grospiron, a 1992 Albertville Olympic moguls champion, emphasized the significance of the sport's presence in the French Alps: "Ski mountaineering isn't just a guest, it's at home here. It is part of the scenery, part of our landscape, part of our culture. This discipline is the embodiment of our vision. This vision has enabled us to stay the course, to maintain a high level of ambition that sustains the commitment of all our stakeholders."



French Olympic gold and silver medalist Emily Harrop also addressed the IOC, with passion and enthusiasm about her sport on the Olympic stage, just before the final decision.



"The world has only seen a glimpse of what ski mountaineering can offer and the French Alps provide the perfect stage to showcase its full potential," Harrop stated. "We have the mountains, the culture, the expertise, and the passion that makes human engineering really part of their identity.



"They also offer a unique opportunity to present the most historic and iconic discipline of our sports, the individual race. The individual race is the heart of ski mountaineering. It's the format that best captures the essence of our sport, and including it in the program for 2030, would not only honor the history and the authenticity of ski mountainering, but would also allow athletes and spectators to experience the sport in its purest and most complete form."

IOC president Kirsty Coventry called for the official vote on the sport joining the French Alps 2030 program, asking for a show of hands from the membership. The proposal appeared to be unanimously approved.



Karl Stoss, the chair of the IOC's Olympic Program Working Group, stated strong support for the proposal, following extensive evaluation and analysis.



"We recognized the sport's potential to add meaningful value to the program, supported by its strong presence in Alpine regions, and its ability to enhance diversity, authenticity and appeal, while building on its growing Olympic momentum," he said.



The Austrian IOC member stressed that adding the sport and more athletes will not increase the overall footprint of the Games, as competitions will be conducted in an existing venue cluster in Montgenèvre, where freestyle skiing and snowboarding will also be held.



For Milan-Cortina, two elimination sprint races (M&W) and a mixed-gender relay were held in Bormio. Critics argued that these fast-paced events, while navigating obstacles, didn't represent the true spirit and heritage of the sport.



The new events for 2030, most likely 10km races, will certainly satisfy top athletes and purists of the high alpine mountain lifestyle sport.

SkiMo's Surge in Popularity

Prior to Ski Mountaineering Olympic approval in Lausanne, the sport's rapid growth and universality were highlighted in an inspirational video produced by the International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF).



There are currently 53 ISMF national federations, while the total number of participants, recreationally and competitively, has rapidly risen to approximately three million, since the sport was initially approved for Milan-Cortina in 2021.



Ski mountaineering's highly anticipated encore comes at the XXVI Olympic Winter Games in the French Alps, February 1-17, 2030.

More News From the IOC: Olympic Ice Venue Moved

It has been an eventful week in Lausanne as the IOC Executive Board approved the move of all ice sports: figure skating, hockey, curling, and short and long track speedskating, from the shores of Nice on the Mediterranean Sea, inland to the city of Lyon.



Fallout and controversy began when newly elected Nice mayor Eric Ciotti rejected converting the city's soccer stadium, Allianz Riviera, for an extended period to host Olympic hockey games. The IOC was not pleased with the sudden declaration, which triggered an unexpected change to the venue masterplan.



"First thing is how happy we are after encountering tough conversations with respect to the situation, that we could find a home for every ice sport, together, in view," IOC Olympic Games executive director Christophe Dubi told POWDER. "This has been really hard work from all those involved, from the public authorities to the organizing committee, of course."

Related: More From Brian Pinelli

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This story was originally published June 25, 2026 at 9:25 AM.