The International Ski Mountaineering Federation has been proposed for IOC recognition ©ISMF

The International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF) is to be proposed for full recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at its Session here next week.

Sambo, which had been hopeful of being put forward, will have to wait at least another year after it was overlooked. 

The ISMF received provisional recognition from the IOC in April 2014 and will now be fully recognised.

This means it will become a full member of the Association of IOC Recognised International Federations (ARISF).

It will become the first sport to gain IOC recognition since the World Flying Disc Federation at last year's Session in Kuala Lumpur.

A decision was made at today's IOC Executive Board meeting here, with rubber stamping by the membership-at-large expected to be a formality.

No other Federations were considered for recognition today, IOC Presidential spokesman Mark Adams said afterwards.

Ski mountaineering is a winter discipline that involves climbing mountains either on skis or carrying them.

It can take place using either free-heel telemark skis or skis bearing more in common with those used in Alpine skiing, where the heel is free for ascents, but is fixed during descent.

It has its origins in military patrol events - combining shooting, cross country skiing and ski mountaineering - which featured at the inaugural Winter Olympic in Charmonix in 1924, but was not included in the subsequent biathlon discipline.

Ski mountaineering has become the third climbing discipline to be IOC recognised ©ISMF
Ski mountaineering has become the third climbing discipline to be IOC recognised ©ISMF

The ISMF was formed in 2008 after the restructuring of the International Council for Ski Mountaineering Competitions.

It now boasts 31 Federations, predominantly in Europe but also in Asia and North America.

If accepted, it will become the 35th full ARISF member and the third IOC recognised climbing governing body after the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) and the International Federation of Sport Climbing.

Sport climbing is expected to be approved as an addition to the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic programme at the IOC Session starting due to start on Tuesday (August 2). 

The UIAA are also currently campaigning to have ice climbing added to the programme for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

The discipline featured as a demonstration event at this year's Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer.

Several other Federations currently seeking IOC recognition have not been successful on this occasion.

This included the International Sambo Federation (FIAS).

FIAS President Vasily Shestakov claimed last year that there are "no barriers" left to stop them becoming recognised by the IOC.