New events to boost female participation, youth appeal for PyeongChang 2018 - Executive Board also approves evaluation criteria for events proposed by Tokyo 2020

The following events were added to the 2018 Olympic programme: curling mixed doubles (M&W); speed skating mass start (M/W); Alpine skiing nations team event (M&W); and snowboard big air (M/W).

The changes reflect the continued evolution of the Winter Olympic programme and build on the success of recent editions of the Games. They also build on the reforms outlined in Olympic Agenda 2020 which aim to create more flexibility in the programme of the Olympic Games.

Olympic Agenda 2020 has created a new framework of considerations, including the introduction of a recommended cap of approximately 2,900 athletes and 100 events for the Olympic Winter Games. While providing a sustainable model for the hosting and organisation of the Games, this framework also limits the ability of the IOC to support all new event proposals put forward by International Federations (IFs).

Requests for changes to the programme were received from the IFs and considered according to the following criteria: added value; youth appeal; attractiveness for TV, media and the general public; gender equality; minimum impact on the number of events and/or quotas; and infrastructure and operational cost and complexity.

The IFs and the Organising Committee for the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 were consulted throughout the review process and their feedback was taken into account.

The EB decided to remove the snowboard parallel slalom (M/W) allowing for snowboard big air to enter the programme, in agreement with the International Ski Federation (FIS).

The new programme will allow for a record number of female events, a record number of mixed events, a record number of female athletes, and a projected increase in the overall female participation rates at the Olympic Winter Games, reflecting the implementation of Olympic Agenda 2020.

The PyeongChang 2018 event programme review was based on IF requests that were made to the IOC prior to the approval of Olympic Agenda 2020. This review must therefore be seen as a transition rather than a full implementation of Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms, which will be in place for the review of the programme of the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

Olympic programme evaluation criteria for Tokyo 2020 approved

This morning the EB also approved the evaluation criteria for review and analysis of any proposal from Tokyo 2020 for the inclusion of one or more additional events on the Olympic programme.

Recommendation 10 of Olympic Agenda 2020 allows Organising Committees for the Olympic Games (OCOGs) to make a proposal for the inclusion of one or more additional events on the Olympic programme for that edition of the Olympic Games.

The list of criteria was developed to support the EB in making its recommendation and the IOC Session in making its decision. The criteria were derived from an original set of 74 criteria that were approved by the IOC Session in 2011 and used to evaluate the 2020 sports programme in 2013. With the approval of Olympic Agenda 2020, an analysis was conducted by the IOC Sports Department to streamline the process for host cities developing criteria for new sports. These criteria are meant to serve as a guide for OCOGs, and cover five main themes: Olympic proposal, value added to the Olympic Games, institutional matters, popularity, and business model. Click here for the full 35 criteria. 

Last month, Tokyo organisers opened the application process for additional event(s) to be included at the Olympic Games in 2020. Tokyo’s final choice of events to be proposed to the IOC will be made by 30 September 2015. The final decision on which new event will feature in the Olympic programme of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be made by the 129th IOC Session in Rio de Janeiro in August 2016.