olympialaji

Olympialaji is Finnish for Olympic sport and refers to any sport that is officially part of the Olympic Games program as determined by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The designation applies to the sport itself and, within the Games, to the events and disciplines contested under that sport.

The inclusion of a sport on the Olympic program is decided by the IOC in cooperation with the sport's international federation. Sports may be added, removed, or reorganized over time to reflect changes in participation, popularity, gender equity, and global reach. Within a sport, the IOC program may include multiple disciplines and events that vary from one Games to another.

Olympic sports span both the Summer and Winter Games. Examples of well-known Olympic sports include athletics, swimming, and gymnastics in the Summer Games, and alpine skiing, figure skating, and hockey in the Winter Games. In recent decades the program has evolved, with new sports and disciplines being added to better reflect global participation. Notable additions in the 21st century have included sport climbing, skateboarding, surfing, and breakdancing in various Olympic editions.

In Finnish usage, olympialaji is a common term in education and media to denote sports eligible for Olympic competition, and it is often contrasted with sports that have never been part of the Games. The concept highlights how international governing bodies and the IOC shape competitive sport on the world stage.