The Winter Olympics Face an Existential Threat from Climate Change
The Winter Olympics, a premier international sporting event, are facing a significant challenge due to rising global temperatures. With the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics just around the corner, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is grappling with the impact of climate change on the games. Currently, there are 93 cities with the infrastructure to host the Winter Olympics and Paralympics, but this number is expected to dwindle rapidly. By 2050, only four cities will be able to support the Olympics without the aid of artificial snow, according to a recent study.
Olympic Rings are seen above the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium ahead of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images
Consequences of Climate Change on Winter Sports
Daniel Scott, a professor of geography and environmental management at the University of Waterloo and one of the study’s authors, notes that the impact of climate change on winter sports is a pressing concern. “Hockey, figure skating, curling, etc., are all indoors; you can do that in Miami if you want,” Scott said. “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 the issue, including combining the Olympic and Paralympic games, hosting them in different cities, or shifting their traditional start dates to take advantage of the coldest months of the year. “Our ambition is to protect the Olympic Winter Games and the winter sports that so many people love; to minimize the impact on the environment; and to help safeguard the winter economies that so many people rely on,” an IOC spokesperson said.
Adapting to Rising Temperatures
One potential solution is to merge the Olympics and Paralympics, allowing both games to take place in February. This would increase visibility for the Paralympics but might also risk them being overshadowed. Another option could be to abandon the “One Bid, One City” partnership, which requires host cities to stage the Olympics and Paralympics at the same venues, and instead hold the games in different locations simultaneously.
This aerial view shows the Biathlon venue in Antholz, northern Italy, prior to the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games. Photo by Odd Anderson/AFP via Getty Images
Shifting both games back by two to three weeks is another option, which would slightly reduce the number of climate-reliable Olympic hosts but substantially expand options for the Paralympics. The IOC is considering this proposal, and Scott notes that artificial snow will play an increasingly central role in future Winter Games. While machine-made snow has drawn criticisms for its energy and water use, newer systems are becoming more efficient and vary widely by location.
Rising heat won’t just affect the Winter Olympics; the Summer Olympics are already feeling the strain. The 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo saw marathons moved to Sapporo to escape extreme heat, and the 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane will be held during Australia’s winter rather than summer to take advantage of cooler weather. “Heat risk is a growing concern,” said Scott.
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