Remembering Former Winter Olympic Sports
The Winter Olympics have featured numerous sports over the years, with some now no longer part of the official program. Many of these, such as dog sledding and ski ballet, were originally demonstration or exhibition sports intended to promote a particular sport. Olympic historian Bill Mallon notes that this practice began at the first Winter Olympics in 1924 and became common after World War II.
Demonstration sports often included a sport specific to the host country or one that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was considering for inclusion.
The practice of demonstration sports ceased after 1992.
Some current Winter Olympic events, like curling and women's speed skating, originated as demonstration sports. The IOC is responsible for adding and removing sports, requiring them to meet guidelines such as anti-doping rules and offering both men's and women's events. Factors like cost, viewership, and youth appeal are also considered. Sports aim for Olympic inclusion due to the prestige and potential funding it brings.
The IOC may remove sports due to logistical issues, cost, strain on host cities, or declining viewership and participation. For instance, bobsleigh was dropped from the 1960 Winter Games due to the host city's decision not to build a track, but it returned in 1964.
Notable Former Winter Olympic Sports and Events
Military Patrol
A blend of cross-country skiing and rifle shooting, this was part of the first Winter Olympics in 1924. Teams of four skied over 18 miles, followed by a target shooting contest where hits reduced race time. It was an official sport in 1924, 1928, and 1936, then a demonstration sport in 1948 before being removed. Its modern successor is the biathlon, introduced in 1960.
Skijoring
An athlete on skis is towed by horses, ponies, or dogs. It appeared as a demonstration sport in St. Moritz in 1928, with horses pulling athletes across a frozen lake. This Scandinavian sport, meaning "ski driving," is still practiced in some Western U.S. states.
Dog Sled
Featured at the 1932 Lake Placid Games, this event acknowledged the sport's North American origins. Thirteen U.S. and Canadian mushers raced a 25-mile course over two days. Although not an Olympic fixture, major long-distance competitions like the Iditarod continue annually.
Bandy
An ancient sport similar to field hockey played on ice skates with curved sticks and a small ball. Modern bandy originated in England in the 1800s. It was a demonstration sport at the 1952 Oslo Games. European countries, particularly the Soviet Union, Finland, Norway, and Sweden (who formed the International Bandy Federation in 1955), remain dominant in the sport.
Ski Ballet (Acroski)
Resembling figure skating on skis, this freestyle skiing discipline was performed to music, scored by judges, and involved flips, spins, and intricate footwork. It was a demonstration sport in 1988 and 1992 but declined in popularity by the end of the millennium. Its creative elements influenced other Olympic freestyle skiing disciplines.