Link to newsround

Winter Olympics 2030: Synchronised figure skating among new sports

Synchro9 Team United States demonstration performance during the ISU Synchronized Skating World Championships 2026 at Salzburg Arena on April 11, 2026 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by Jurij Kodrun - International Skating Union/International Skating Union via Getty Images).Getty Images

Synchro9 which had its debut at the ISU Synchronized Skating World Championships 2026 is new for the Winter Olympics in 2030

Freeride skiing and snowboarding and synchronised figure skating will feature in the Winter Olympics for the first time in 2030.

The sports join ski mountaineering or 'skimo' which was added in 2026.

Meanwhile, the men-only Nordic Combined which features cross-country skiing and ski jumping has been removed from the programme.

The International Olympics Committee (IOC) says the Games, which take place in and around the French Alps, will be the first to feature an equal number of male and female competitors.

Where will the 2030 Winter Olympic Games be held?

This photograph shows the Mont-Blanc massif mountains and the "Mer de Glace" glacier seen from the Montenvers train from Chamonix to the Montenvers - Mer de Glace point of view, at the Montenvers station in the French Alps, central-eastern France on June 17, 2026.Getty Images

The 2030 Winter Olympic Games will be held in the French Alps

The Winter Olympic Games 2030, known as Alpes 2030 will be held in the French Alps.

The Alps is Europe's largest mountain range and stretches across eight countries including Italy where the 2026 Games were held alongside the city of Milan.

There will be 3,046 athletes competing across 126 events and for the first time half will be women.

What new sports have been added?

Switzerland's Martin Bender competes in the ski event during the Freeride World Tour finals Verbier Xtreme on the Bec de Rosses mountain above the Swiss Alps resort of Verbier, on March 20, 2025. Getty Images

Freeride ski is a new sport for 2030 Winter Olympic Games

Freeride skiing and snowboarding is new for 2030.

The sport has no set course and instead competitors ski or snowboard on untouched terrain choosing their own path through natural features like chutes and cliffs.

The athletes are not judged on time but things like fluidity and control.

Also added for 2030 is Synchro9, this is a type of synchronised skating.

Traditionally up to 16 figure skaters perform together as a team.

Synchro9 is the International Skating Union's new version which cuts the number to 9.

The IOC say the routines are shorter and faster and viewers can expect head-to-head battles, elimination rounds and themed performances.

Alba de Silvestro of Team Italy competes during the Ski Mountaineering Mixed Relay on day fifteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Stelvio Alpine Skiing Centre on February 21, 2026 in Bormio, Italy. Getty Images

Ski mountaineering made its debut at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy

Ski mountaineering which made its debut at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games will be kept on.

In Ski mountaineering - also known as skimo for short - athletes race up and down a course, alternating between being on skis and on foot.

Snowboard parallel giant slalom has been kept on the Alpes 2030 programme, with Snowboard Mixed Team Parallel event added.

Nordic combined, which has been part of the Games since they started in 1924, will not feature.

The male-only event blends cross-country skiing and ski jumping.