Alpine skiing combined to become team event at Olympics 2026

Last updated on June 29th, 2023 at 08:08 pm

Alpine skiing, or downhill skiing, combined at the 2026 Winter Olympics will showcase two specialists in a team instead of one skier, according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), a non-governmental sports organization based in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Earlier, the men’s and women’s combined had an individual skier compete in Alpine skiing. However, it has become a team event at the 2026 Winter Olympics. 

Reportedly, it will now involve two skiers of the same gender representing a particular country. One person will take a downhill run, and the other will tackle the slalom course. The team that finishes early will be declared the winner. 

In May, the International Ski Federation (FIS), the highest international governing body for skiing, said that the combined team would be added to the upcoming Alpine World Cup season, the top international circuit of alpine skiing competitions, at a men’s event in Kitzbuhel, Austria.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said that men and women would race the same distances in cross-country skiing at the Winter Olympics for the first time in 2026. 

Nordic combined and men’s ski jumping Olympic team events will also be reduced from four to two participants per nation, according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The Nordic combined team event would also modify its cross-country skiing format from 4x5km to 2×7.5km. Nordic combined, which has a long Olympic history, combines ski jumping and cross-country skiing.

The 2026 Winter Olympics, also known as Milano Cortina 2026, will take place from February 6 to 22, 2026. Italian cities of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo will be the main host cities.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board also approved the qualification systems for biathlon, curling, figure skating, short track speed skating, and ski mountaineering for the Milan-Cortina Games in Italy. Ski mountaineering has been added to the Olympic program for the 2026 Olympics.