A classic encyclopedia-style definition sentence. Notable features: (1) ~のことである is the definitional copula ('it is the matter of / refers to X'), the most formal variant of the dictionary-entry ender; (2) multiple sinitic compounds stacked (冬季, 競技, 組み合わせる); (3) two identity clauses joined by the mid-sentence で (the conjunctive form of だ/である).