Cross-country skiing is one of the oldest types of the Olympic program. Skiers competed in the very first Winter Olympics in Chamonix in 1924. True, then only men competed, moreover, only at two distances - 18 and 50 km.
Skiing competitions were very popular among the Scandinavian peoples long before the start of the modern Olympic movement. The first speed races were held by Norwegian skiers back in 1797. Soon, such races began to be organized by the Finns and Swedes. Cross-country skiing has become popular in Central European countries as well. It is not surprising that the organizers of the 1st Winter Olympic Games decided to include this sport in the program. In the year of the first Winter Olympics, the International Ski Federation also appeared.
The ski competition program has changed several times. So, in 1936, the 4x10 km relay race was included in it. Two decades later, a second long distance appeared - 30 km, and instead of an 18-kilometer route, athletes had to overcome a 15-kilometer one. In 1992, men had a sprint distance of 10 km.
The fair sex appeared on the Olympic ski trails in 1956. At first, they had only one distance of 10 km, but after four years, the skiers began to compete in the relay. The team consisted of 3 participants, each of whom had to run a distance of 5 km. Twenty years later, the composition of the relay team has increased to four athletes. At the 1964 Olympics in Innsbruck, women ran the 5 km sprint for the first time. Long distances in the female part of the program appeared in 1984 and 1992. First, a 20 km race was included, and then a women's marathon - 30 km.
The ski team at any Winter Olympics is the most numerous. In each type of program, a country can nominate four participants. One team per country participates in relay races.
The Olympic cross-country skiing program is constantly being improved. Now in this form 12 sets of medals are played, 6 for men and women. Athletes compete in classic and free running style. The start rules are also different. The Olympic program includes races with a joint or time trial, pursuit races, individual and team sprints. Freestyle medals were first awarded in Calgary in 1988. At the first Millennium Games, held in Salt Lake City, athletes competed for the first time in the sprint and mass start race.
