The Organizing Committee of the 2024 Olympics in Paris has submitted a proposal to the International Olympic Committee to abolish the combination rating. The proposal provides for a combined assessment of the disciplines of bouldering and lead climbing. Speed, however, would be rated separately in the future.
The news of the proposal is spreading like wildfire through the climbing scene. You could feel the relief of the athletes. Because the combined format was and is sharply criticized by many. "The combined format is a great tragedy for our sport," said Adam Ondra in an interview in 2016. Despite all the criticism, it will be used at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and forces athletes like Adam Ondra to undergo specific training, which is also the Discipline includes speed.
More competitions, more athletes and more medals in Paris
Paris 2024 now proposes a split of the discipline Speed. New lead climbing and bouldering would be scored together and speed in a separate competition. This would mean that twelve instead of six medals could be awarded and 72 instead of 40 athletes could compete. 16 Women and 16 Men would fight for six medals in the Speed discipline. In the second competition of the disciplines lead / bouldering it would be 20 athletes and 20 athletes and also six medals.
Nothing is decided yet
For the time being, this is only a proposal from the Organizing Committee for the 2024 Olympics. The proposal will be presented to the International Olympic Committee on March 26th. If the proposal is accepted, it will be decided at a meeting in Lausanne on June 24th. "It would be nice to have a set of medals for every discipline and this could be a step in the right direction," writes Swiss athlete Petra Klingler.
That might interest you
+ + +
Credits: Cover picture IFSC / Eddie Fowke