LAUSANNE: Seven new events will be included in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced Wednesday.
The IOC executive board has approved the addition of monobob and freestyle ski big air, as well as dynamic mixed team formats including short track mixed relay, a ski jumping mixed team event, mixed team aerials and a snowboard cross mixed team event, Xinhua news agency reported.
“The additions reflect our continued commitment to make the Olympic Games programs more youthful and gender balanced,” said IOC Sports director Kit McConnell.
A record number of women athletes are expected to participate in the Games, with the female quota being increased from 41 to 45.44%.
In addition to creating a youth-oriented programme, it is also a significant step towards achieving the 50 per cent gender balance at the Olympic Winter Games for both athletes and events, which is a clear objective of Olympic Agenda 2020. Beijing 2022 will see more female athletes and women’s events than any other Olympic Winter Games, with female quota positions increasing from 41 per cent to 45.44 per cent.
With this decision, Skating joins the International Federations of Biathlon and Curling in reaching gender equality on their Olympic programmes, while the Bobsleigh and Skeleton, Hockey, Luge and Ski federations have all increased female participation.
The disciplines of skeleton, speed skating, Alpine skiing, cross country, freestyle and snowboard will all move to gender balance for the first time.
The overall number of athletes has been reduced by 41 to reach 2,892, which is within the Olympic Charter framework. With no new venues or fields of play needed for the new events, the programme aligns with recommendations set out in Olympic Agenda 2020 and is another step to reducing the overall size of the Games.
