Ski mountaineering could return to the Olympic stage in 2030.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) executive board and French Alps 2030 Organizing Committee (OCOG) have proposed adding ski mountaineering to the 2030 Olympic lineup in the French Alps. IOC board members will vote on the proposal at the 146th IOC Session on June 24 and 25 in Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Related: Introducing Ski Mountaineering Which Debuts at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan-Cortina, Italy
Ski mountaineering, also known as skimo, is an intense, multi-disciplinary mountain sport. Competitors ascend a mountain on skis equipped with skins, removing them and climbing on foot if the terrain becomes too steep. Competitors then must lock back into their skis before skiing downhill through a marked course. The sport merges the endurance of cross-country skiing with the precision of alpine skiing.
The OCOG proposed adding ski mountaineering to the 2030 Olympics because of its “potential to add meaningful value to the program,” Olympics.com detailed. The French Alps have a strong Alpine identity, with ski mountaineering growing in popularity in the region. With little required infrastructure and a growing young audience, ski mountaineering presents an attractive addition to the Olympic program.
Skimo made its Olympic debut at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Games, after a rule change that allowed the host nation of Italy to propose sports for only its Games. The 2030 French Alps Games suggested keeping the same three skimo events from 2026 for its Games: women’s and men’s sprints and a mixed-gender relay. French Alps 2030 also suggested adding individual women’s and men’s races.
France led the skimo medal standings in 2026 with three medals, including one gold. The sport received “strong engagement,” according to Olympics.com.
“You can feel how much energy there is here, how warmly it’s being welcomed into the Olympics,” Team USA ski mountaineering athlete Anna Gibson said in an Olympics.com article after competing at the 2026 Games.
The IOC executive board is currently conducting a full discipline program review, using data from the 2026 Olympics to determine which sports and disciplines should be included in the 2030 lineup. The board is using statistics from television, digital, public interest, spectatorship, and media coverage to assess the popularity of each sport and discipline.
If approved at the IOC session on June 24 and 25, ski mountaineering will be on the Olympic card at the 2030 French Alps Games. The rest of the 2030 program will be decided in the weeks following the IOC session.
“Ski mountaineering embodies the very essence of the Alps: exertion, nature, commitment and pushing one’s limits. With Alps 2030, we aim to help the sport reach new Olympic heights by showcasing its most complete and authentic form. We are also fortunate in France to have some of the world’s best athletes. They are exceptional ambassadors for ski mountaineering, embodying the sport’s values and helping to introduce it to the general public and new generations every day, ” Edgar Grospiron, French Alps 2030 President, said in a press release.
