Six new sports will be eligible for Olympic status in time for the Sochi Games in Russia in 2014. Situated on the border with Georgia near Turkey, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Iran and the Black Sea, the games will welcome the following new Olympic sports:
- Ski half-pipe Women,
- Ski half-pipe Men,
- Women’s ski jumping,
- Biathlon mixed relay,
- Figure skating team event ,
- Luge team relay.
The International Olympic Committee said that key factors in deciding to include new sports are “whether the changes would increase universality, gender equity and youth appeal, and, in general, add value to the Games. Other considerations include the cost of infrastructure, and the impact on the overall quota and the number of events”.
Five other events under are still under consideration: ski slopestyle (men and women), snowboard slopestyle (men and women) and Alpine team parallel competition. These events are subject to a further feasibility study and a decision will be forthcoming within the next few weeks.
