Last week, the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (FIBT) had raised the prospect of sliding sports being included at least as exhibition sports in Pyeongchang after a demonstration event at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.

A spokesman for the governing body, David Kurtz claimed that rules and equipment were being developed with the help of the South Korean Adaptive Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation, and appeared hopeful the sports would have a chance of appearing at Pyeongchang 2018. 

However, an IPC spokesperson confirmed to insidethegames today the FIBT's plans will have to be put on ice.

"In early June 2013 we informed the Federation Internationale de Bobsleigh that the IPC Governing Board had taken the decision not to include the sport of Para-Bobsleigh and Para-Skeleton in the Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games," said the spokesperson.

"We are encouraged to see that they are looking to develop the sport further in terms of rules, equipment and classification.

"If sufficient progress is made over the coming years, we would welcome a bid for inclusion in the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games."

Alpine skiing is one of four sports currently on the Winter Paralympics programme
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With triathlon and canoeing being added to the programme of sports for Rio 2016 and bids by other sports, such as badminton, handball, hockey, taekwondo and powerchair football, set to be considered for Tokyo 2020, the IPC appears to be open to extending the number of sports on the programme.

There appears, though, no obvious plans as of yet to add to the four sports currently on the Winter Games programme - Alpine and Nordic skiing, wheelchair curling and ice sledge hockey.

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