Climate Change Threatens Winter Olympics' Existence, Says New Study
The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics are just around the corner, but beneath the excitement and anticipation lies an existential chill from climate change. According to a study published this week, only four cities will be able to support the Olympics without artificial snow by 2050, leaving a dwindling pool of viable host locations.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is grappling with rising temperatures, which pose significant challenges to the traditional Winter Games. As Daniel Scott, a professor of geography and environmental management at the University of Waterloo, notes, "It's really the snow sports that we're talking about as vulnerable – how do you maintain that as part of the Winter Games?"
The IOC is exploring various options to address this issue, including merging the Olympics and Paralympics into a single event in February. However, this proposal raises concerns about the potential overshadowing of the Paralympics. Another option could be to drop the "One Bid, One City" partnership, which requires host cities to stage both events at the same venues.
The most promising solution, according to Scott, is to shift both games back by two to three weeks. This would expand options for the Paralympics and add 14 more climate-reliable cities by the 2080s. The IOC has already expressed gratitude for this new analysis, which aligns with their consideration of such a move.
As artificial snow becomes increasingly central to future Winter Games, Scott emphasizes the need to make it as sustainable as possible. Newer snow-making systems are becoming more efficient, but their environmental impact still raises concerns. The 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics will produce six times more emissions than the 2030 Games in the French Alps, highlighting the pressing need for innovation.
The climate crisis is not limited to the Winter Olympics; it also affects the Summer Games. During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, marathons were moved to Sapporo due to extreme heat. The 2032 Brisbane Olympics will be held during Australia's winter rather than summer to take advantage of cooler weather.
As Scott notes, "Heat risk is a growing concern." The study highlights the dire consequences of climate change on the Winter Olympics' existence. With only four potential host cities viable by 2050 and just 14-31 possible locations remaining by the 2080s, the IOC must act swiftly to address this existential threat.
Ultimately, the future of snow sports depends on finding innovative solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change. As Scott concludes, "It's not a question of 'Can you do without it? It's how do you make it as sustainable as possible?" The clock is ticking for the IOC and the Olympic community to find a way to safeguard the Winter Olympics against the impending chill of climate change.
The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics are just around the corner, but beneath the excitement and anticipation lies an existential chill from climate change. According to a study published this week, only four cities will be able to support the Olympics without artificial snow by 2050, leaving a dwindling pool of viable host locations.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is grappling with rising temperatures, which pose significant challenges to the traditional Winter Games. As Daniel Scott, a professor of geography and environmental management at the University of Waterloo, notes, "It's really the snow sports that we're talking about as vulnerable – how do you maintain that as part of the Winter Games?"
The IOC is exploring various options to address this issue, including merging the Olympics and Paralympics into a single event in February. However, this proposal raises concerns about the potential overshadowing of the Paralympics. Another option could be to drop the "One Bid, One City" partnership, which requires host cities to stage both events at the same venues.
The most promising solution, according to Scott, is to shift both games back by two to three weeks. This would expand options for the Paralympics and add 14 more climate-reliable cities by the 2080s. The IOC has already expressed gratitude for this new analysis, which aligns with their consideration of such a move.
As artificial snow becomes increasingly central to future Winter Games, Scott emphasizes the need to make it as sustainable as possible. Newer snow-making systems are becoming more efficient, but their environmental impact still raises concerns. The 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics will produce six times more emissions than the 2030 Games in the French Alps, highlighting the pressing need for innovation.
The climate crisis is not limited to the Winter Olympics; it also affects the Summer Games. During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, marathons were moved to Sapporo due to extreme heat. The 2032 Brisbane Olympics will be held during Australia's winter rather than summer to take advantage of cooler weather.
As Scott notes, "Heat risk is a growing concern." The study highlights the dire consequences of climate change on the Winter Olympics' existence. With only four potential host cities viable by 2050 and just 14-31 possible locations remaining by the 2080s, the IOC must act swiftly to address this existential threat.
Ultimately, the future of snow sports depends on finding innovative solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change. As Scott concludes, "It's not a question of 'Can you do without it? It's how do you make it as sustainable as possible?" The clock is ticking for the IOC and the Olympic community to find a way to safeguard the Winter Olympics against the impending chill of climate change.
they'll have to find new ways to make it work, like using technology or something... but that raises more questions like will it be too expensive or will it mess with the whole olympic vibe? 
also can u imagine having to move the paralympics back by 2-3 weeks lol that sounds crazy 
i hope they figure out a way to make snow sports sustainable cuz the thought of not having them is kinda depressing 
like, can u even imagine if they had 2 cancel the whole thing? i know i would be SHOOK 
i'm all about that Milano Cortina vibe 
and i wanna see them make it work w/ this climate crisis tho 
i mean, we gotta take care of our planet, rite? 
so, maybe shifting it back 2-3 weeks is the way 2 go 
gotta get that paralympics on the map too 
hope they can make it happen w/o affecting the whole olympic experience 
Can you even imagine if they have to cancel the whole thing?! 
What about all the athletes who've been training for years?! 
The thought of the Winter Olympics not happening because of climate change just gives me chills 
Like, can't we just get it together?! 
What if some of those cities even disappear due to climate change?! It's a bit too much to handle right now...
This new study is giving me the winter blues 
I mean, who wants the Olympics to be cancelled or have to deal with artificial snow all the time? It's already hard enough for athletes to perform at their best in a normal winter environment, let alone when they're having to fight against rising temps. The IOC needs to get creative and find some serious solutions to this problem ASAP 
We're still debating this, but honestly, isn't it time we take concrete steps towards making sports more eco-friendly? The future of snow sports depends on innovation and finding ways to minimize our environmental footprint. Can we really afford not to try?
. I mean, what if they have to move everything to Hawaii or something? Just kidding ( sorta) but seriously, it's getting kinda hard for the IOC to figure out how to make this work. Maybe they can just add some more snow-cones 
and call it a day? Nah, not gonna happen 
what's next? summer Olympics in Australia? 
, I don't think we're taking enough action. Climate change is becoming more and more evident, and it's affecting everything from snow sports to marathons being moved due to heat 
. The Olympics are a big deal, but what's the point of winning if our planet isn't going to be sustainable in 50 years? We need to start thinking about the bigger picture and find solutions that won't harm the environment 
. I know the IOC is trying to come up with new ideas, like shifting the games back by a few weeks 
, but we need more drastic measures. It's not just about the Olympics; it's about our future 
. We need to work together to make sustainable changes and protect our planet for generations to come 
that's crazy!
... it could be a lifesaver for some of those climate-reliable cities 
. The clock is ticking, and I hope the IOC gets it together soon 
. Like, what if it's not possible to have snow sports anymore? It's gonna be a big bummer for everyone who loves luge, figure skating, and skiing 
. The fact that only four cities can support the Olympics without artificial snow by 2050 is crazy! What are the IOC going to do? They need to come up with some awesome solutions ASAP 
️. I hope they can find a way to make artificial snow more sustainable so we don't have to say goodbye to our favorite winter events forever 
of the Games.