Synchronized Skating Included in Winter Olympics for First Time
The International Olympic Committee has approved the inclusion of synchronized skating in the 2030 Winter Olympics, which will be held in the French Alps.
The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has approved the inclusion of a new discipline, Synchro9 – a format of synchronized figure skating – in the program of the 2030 Winter Olympics, to be held in the French Alps. This marks the first time that synchronized skating has become part of the Olympic program.
The International Skating Union (ISU) called the decision an important milestone in the development of the discipline, which officially gained separate status in 1994. The Synchro9 format involves teams of nine skaters. According to the ISU, the new version is designed to make competitions more dynamic and easier to organize while preserving key elements of synchronized skating: teamwork, precision, speed, and artistry.
ISU President Jae Youl Kim described the IOC's decision as historic. "Today is truly a historic day for synchronized skating. We are proud that Synchro9 will become part of the ISU Olympic family. Athletes will have the opportunity to showcase their talent on the biggest stage in winter sports," Kim said.
The inclusion in the 2030 Olympics was preceded by another important decision: Synchro9 had earlier been approved for the 2028 Winter Youth Olympics in Dolomiti-Valtellina. The ISU believes that the new discipline will help expand the audience for figure skating and aligns with the IOC's direction of renewing the Olympic program.
