Story perspectives

IOC Adds Synchronized Skating to 2030 French Alps Games

7/8/2026

Summary

**IOC Adds Synchro**

The International Olympic Committee added synchronized skating to the 2030 Winter Olympics in French Alps, France, a move U.S. Figure Skating's Kevin Rosenstein called a landmark moment.
Synchro9 will feature teams with reserve, debuting at the 2028 Youth Olympic Games in Dolomiti Valtellina.
Synchro9 will take place Nov. 7–8, 2026 Irvine, USA; Nov. 28–29, 2026 Vantaa, Finland; Jan. 29–30, 2027 Rouen, France; and Feb. 20–21, 2027 Budapest, Hungary.
2030 Olympics will run Feb. 1-17, 2030, adding freestyle skiing and snowboarding.

Summary

**IOC Sets Quota**

IOC set a 3,046-athlete quota with 1,525 women and 1,521 men for gender equality.
Dropping Nordic combined, the winter sport without women, leaves 56 women’s, 55 men’s and 15 mixed events.
It adds freeride skiing and retains snowboard parallel giant slalom.
President Kirsty Coventry said the cut is disappointing but sport could return for Utah 2034.
Race director Lasse Ottesen called the decision disappointing and said he struggles to understand it.

History

Historical Context

In February 1998 the Nagano Winter Games introduced a women’s ice-hockey tournament, fielding six national teams—including the United States and Canada—and marking the first team sport for women at the Olympics. The International Olympic Committee’s later decision to add synchronized skating and raise gender-balanced quotas for the 2030 Games draws directly on that precedent.

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**IOC Adds Synchro**

The International Olympic Committee added synchronized skating to the 2030 Winter Olympics in French Alps, France, a move U.S. Figure Skating's Kevin Rosenstein called a landmark moment.
Synchro9 will feature teams with reserve, debuting at the 2028 Youth Olympic Games in Dolomiti Valtellina.
Synchro9 will take place Nov. 7–8, 2026 Irvine, USA; Nov. 28–29, 2026 Vantaa, Finland; Jan. 29–30, 2027 Rouen, France; and Feb. 20–21, 2027 Budapest, Hungary.
2030 Olympics will run Feb. 1-17, 2030, adding freestyle skiing and snowboarding.

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