I love the Winter Olympics. Every morning, I wake up, brew a cup of coffee, and turn on the Games. They are perfect… except they’re missing one of my favorite winter sports: ice climbing.
That ice climbing is not one of the 43 sports included in the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics is, frankly, shocking—especially given the massive success of sport climbing in the Summer Games.
Hope for 2030
There is real hope for 2030. In late 2026, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board will meet to decide which additional sports may be included in the French Alps 2030 Winter Olympics.
The IOC has published evaluation criteria to assess potential additional sports for the French Apls 2030:
- Prioritising a reduction in the cost and complexity of hosting the Games.
- Engaging the best athletes and sports that put athlete health and safety first.
- Recognising global appeal to fans across the world, and host country interest.
- Prioritising gender equality and youth relevance to engage new fans and athletes.
- Upholding integrity and fairness to support clean sports.
- Supporting environmental sustainability to foster long-term sustainability.
Ice climbing meets every single one of these criteria.
Why Ice Climbing Belongs
The International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) has identified ice climbing as being “fully aligned with the priorities of the Olympic Movement,” citing several key strengths:
- A natural connection with Alpine culture, in perfect resonance with the vision of the French Alps 2030 Olympic Winter Games;
- A sustainable and low-impact sport, able to rely on existing infrastructures, with a reduced logistical and environmental footprint;
- A universal, gender-balanced and global sport, practised by women and men from over 25 nations, structured across an international circuit on three continents and led by experts committed to clean and safe competitions;
- A strong commitment to youth and innovation, through a telegenic format that is spectacular, dynamic and easily understood by a wide audience and demographic.
And beyond the qualifications on paper, ice climbing is exhilarating to watch. Anyone who has seen an Ice Climbing World Cup knows how gripping the sport can be.
A Sport Rooted in the French Alps
But this goes deeper than spectacle.
Ice climbing and the French Alps are inseparable. Chamonix, a town at the base of Mont Blanc, is the birthplace of the world’s first alpine guide association.
In 1820, a tragic accident on the slopes of Mont Blanc highlighted the need for trained, professional mountain guides. Just one year later, in 1821, the Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix was founded. Guiding organizations quickly spread across Europe, and in in 1965, guides from Austria, France, Switzerland, and Italy united to form the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA).
Today, travelers from all over the world can ice climb in Chamonix, including on the stunning lines on the Mont Blanc massif.
The Ice Climbing 2030 Movement Has Started
The IOC has an opportunity to honor the deep alpine heritage of the French Alps while showcasing a modern, sustainable, and globally relevant sport.
Ice climbing belongs in the Winter Olympics.
And there may be no better place—or time—than French Alps 2030 to make it happen.
