At a press conference in Paris on Thursday morning, the former long-distance runner announced that they are in discussions with several actors about a new project. The conversations go back several months. Well, he comes with the revelation that causes a stir. He will have cross-country running on the Olympic programme. Winter time. Coe hopes to see some of the biggest stars this summer during the Olympics in the French Alps in 2030 and Salt Lake City in 2034. – I have always wanted to see more cross-country races. Historically and traditionally it is a winter sport. It gives Africa an opportunity to have serious participation in the Winter Games, says Coe. LEGEND: Sebastian Coe dominated the 1500 meters in the 1980s. He is now president of the International Athletics Federation. Photo: Phil Noble / Reuters Cross-country running was last on the Olympic program in 1924, but then in summer. – There is a lot of goodwill The African continent has no medals in the Winter Games, but in return has made it big in the summer with over 400 medals in total. Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia ran away with the medals in the senior race during this year’s WC in Belgrade. Well, the idea is that cross-country running and cross-country cycling, a form of mountain biking, should be able to share trails and get a place on the program with cross-country skiing, alpine skiing and biathlon. – We have to look more closely at the way forward, but there is a lot of goodwill to track, says Coe, who reveals that he has already held talks with the organizing committee of the 2034 Games in the USA. “Do you think they have room for us?” news’s sports commentator, Jan Petter Saltvedt, was present during the announcement. The mighty Brit was on the other side: – When Coe saw me as a Norwegian after the press conference, he came over and jokingly said “Do you think they have room for us?”, says Saltvedt. The reference is naturally about the Norwegian dominance in winter. – This is something he has thought long and hard about. And he also said that he has discussed this with the international cycling president, French David Lappartient, and that they stand together to promote this. That makes it even more realistic. news’s SPORTS COMMENTATOR: Jan Petter Saltvedt. Photo: Lars Thomas Nordby / news The commentator points out that this is a win-win situation for the International Olympic Committee as well. They get two rehearsals with well-known athletes, and it also helps to renew the games in a concrete and creative way. – They get two sports for the price of one, in addition to the market potential in the form of interest from an African continent that until now has not had a single reason to care, says Saltvedt, who finally adds: the conversation with news with turning away and explaining to his colleagues “these people only wake up when the lights go out”, so we can take this interest as something of a compliment. The Norwegians are positive: – Interestingly, Jakob Ingebrigtsen is European champion four times as a junior and twice as a senior in cross-country running. He is positive about the proposal. – Interesting thought. I’m excited to see if anything comes of it. I’m basically fond of cross-country running, so if there is a plan or a time that suits me well, then maybe it would be interesting, says Ingebrigtsen to news. Olympic-ready Narve Gilje Nordås reacted like this when news presented the news: – It sounds fantastic. I’m in, no doubt about it! Ingebrigtsen and Nordås’ program in the Olympics Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Narve Gilje Nordås’ schedule in Paris: Friday 2 August: 1500 metres, test heat, at 11.02 Sunday 4 August: 1500 metres, semi-final, at 21.45 Tuesday 6 August: 1500 metres, final, at 20.50 Wednesday 7 August: 5000 metres, trials, at 11.10 Saturday 10 August: 5000 metres, final, at 20.00 You can watch all the races on news. PS! Before it becomes relevant to participate in a winter championship for some of the athletes, the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028 will also be contested. When the Olympic Games come in 2030, Ingebrigtsen and Nordås will be 29 and 31 years old respectively. Published 02.08.2024, at 05.48
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Sebastian Coe wants Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the Winter Olympics – Olympics Paris 2024
