Winter Olympic organizers have expressed opposition to the inclusion of summer sports in the Winter Games program. Suggestions to add cyclocross, cross-country running, and indoor sports to the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps and Nice were met with disapproval by the Winter Olympic Federations group. They stated that such proposals would undermine the unique identity and heritage of the Winter Games, which are known for celebrating sports played on snow and ice.

International Olympic Committee president, Kirsty Coventry, initiated a review of the Winter Games program and related matters following her assumption of office in June. The Winter Games currently feature 116 medal events, leaving room for expansion compared to the Summer Games, which had 329 events in Paris last year.

Incorporating cyclocross and cross-country running, which typically take place on non-snow surfaces, would require amendments to the IOC’s rules that mandate Winter Games sports to be snow and ice-based. Ivo Ferriani, representing winter sports on the IOC executive board, emphasized the importance of enhancing existing winter sports to attract wider participation and audiences, rather than introducing new disciplines.

While there is support for cyclocross and cross-country running within Olympic circles, not all officials are convinced of their suitability for the Winter Olympics. Max Cobb, the American secretary general of the International Biathlon Union, questioned the proposal, stating that any additions to the Winter Games should align with the traditional snow and ice sports that define the event.