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At 100-plus In the years since the first Winter Olympics took place in 1924 in Chamonix, France, many events have come and gone. Curling and short track continue. Slightly quirkier events like ski ballet have fallen by the wayside. Below are some of the events that you definitely won’t see at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The Missing Sports Are Not Being Held at the 2026 Winter Olympics
Bandy
A combination of field hockey and soccer, bandy—also known as “banty” or Russian hockey—was a demonstration sport at the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo. Unlike a hockey stick, the bandy stick is curved; instead of a puck, the game is played with a ball. Also, goalies can only defend the goal with their hands. Each team has 11 players and competes in two 45-minute halves. The Oslo Games were the only time bandy was part of the official Winter Olympics lineup.
Ski Ballet
Not much different from figure skating, this event is actually dancing on skis. Integrated into the Olympic program during the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary, Canada and in Albertville, France in 1992, ski ballet is a form of freestyle skiing that grew out of the counterculture movement in the middle of the 20th century. It was intended as a response to other more rigorous forms of competitive skiing. Each event involves skiers performing choreographed jumps and steps to a musical soundtrack. Each performance is evaluated by a panel of judges who look for artistry and technical achievement. Ski ballet was never a medal event, but its prowess can still be felt in modern freestyle events like slopestyle.
Equestrian Skijoring
Do you want to strap on skis and be pulled through the snow by a galloping horse? Horseback riding can be good for you. The game only made one appearance in the Olympics, during the 1928 Games in St. Moritz, Switzerland. No one won any medals; this is just a demonstration event.
Sled Dog Racing
Sled dog racing at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York in 1932.Bettmann/Getty Images
Back in 1932, sled dog racing emerged as a demonstration event at the Winter Games in Lake Placid, New York. The game involves a team of six dogs pulling a sled and an athlete. The course is 40 kilometers long and many teams are able to pull their sled at a speed of up to 30 kilometers per hour. If a dog is injured, the athlete carries it on the sled to the end of the course.
Military Patrol
A precursor to biathlon, the military patrol began at the 1924 Winter Games in Chamonix, France. It involves rifle shooting with cross-country skiing, but unlike biathlon, it requires everyone on a four-person team—called a patrol—to wear a military uniform. Switzerland won gold in the 1924 Games; they should be the only ones. During the 1928, 1936, and 1948 Winter Olympics military patrols were merely a demonstration event.
This story originally appeared on WIRED Italy. It was translated from Italian.
