Climate Change Threatens Olympic Winter Games: A Cooling Reality Beckons
As the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics approach, concerns are mounting about the impact of climate change on the world's premier winter sports event. With temperatures rising and snowfall dwindling, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is under pressure to adapt or risk losing its grip on this beloved sport.
Currently, 93 cities around the globe possess the necessary infrastructure to host the Winter Olympics and Paralympics, but a new study warns that only four will be climate-reliable by 2050. This bleak outlook raises questions about the very survival of snow sports – a staple of the Olympic program.
"Hockey, figure skating, curling, etc., are all indoors," says Daniel Scott, a geography and environmental management professor at the University of Waterloo and one of the study's authors. "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 scrambling to address these concerns, exploring options like merging the Olympics and Paralympics or hosting them in different cities. Another proposal involves shifting both events back by two to three weeks, which could expand options for the Paralympics while reducing the number of climate-reliable Olympic hosts.
However, a more pressing issue is the future of snow itself. Artificial snow will play an increasingly central role in future Winter Games – currently used at just seven of the 93 possible host locations – and its environmental impact remains a contentious topic. "It's not a question of 'Can you do without it?' It's 'How do you make it as sustainable as possible'," Scott says.
The IOC is working to improve snowmaking technology, but the environmental cost remains high. The 2026 Games in Milan will produce six times more emissions than the 2030 Games in the French Alps, while the 2034 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City will emit 16 times more than its predecessor.
Rising heat poses a growing threat to not just the Winter Olympics but also the Summer Games. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics saw marathons relocated from sweltering Sapporo to cooler climes, and the 2032 Brisbane Olympics are now scheduled during Australia's winter months to avoid extreme heat.
As climate change continues to tighten its grip on the world's sports calendar, the IOC must confront an existential crisis: can it adapt to a cooling reality without sacrificing the very essence of these beloved competitions? The clock is ticking – will the Olympics find a way to thrive in a rapidly changing environment?
As the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics approach, concerns are mounting about the impact of climate change on the world's premier winter sports event. With temperatures rising and snowfall dwindling, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is under pressure to adapt or risk losing its grip on this beloved sport.
Currently, 93 cities around the globe possess the necessary infrastructure to host the Winter Olympics and Paralympics, but a new study warns that only four will be climate-reliable by 2050. This bleak outlook raises questions about the very survival of snow sports – a staple of the Olympic program.
"Hockey, figure skating, curling, etc., are all indoors," says Daniel Scott, a geography and environmental management professor at the University of Waterloo and one of the study's authors. "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 scrambling to address these concerns, exploring options like merging the Olympics and Paralympics or hosting them in different cities. Another proposal involves shifting both events back by two to three weeks, which could expand options for the Paralympics while reducing the number of climate-reliable Olympic hosts.
However, a more pressing issue is the future of snow itself. Artificial snow will play an increasingly central role in future Winter Games – currently used at just seven of the 93 possible host locations – and its environmental impact remains a contentious topic. "It's not a question of 'Can you do without it?' It's 'How do you make it as sustainable as possible'," Scott says.
The IOC is working to improve snowmaking technology, but the environmental cost remains high. The 2026 Games in Milan will produce six times more emissions than the 2030 Games in the French Alps, while the 2034 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City will emit 16 times more than its predecessor.
Rising heat poses a growing threat to not just the Winter Olympics but also the Summer Games. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics saw marathons relocated from sweltering Sapporo to cooler climes, and the 2032 Brisbane Olympics are now scheduled during Australia's winter months to avoid extreme heat.
As climate change continues to tighten its grip on the world's sports calendar, the IOC must confront an existential crisis: can it adapt to a cooling reality without sacrificing the very essence of these beloved competitions? The clock is ticking – will the Olympics find a way to thrive in a rapidly changing environment?
. I mean, I love watching the Winter Olympics as much as the next person, but climate change is for real 
. It's crazy to think that only four cities can host snow sports by 2050 
. And yeah, artificial snow might be the future, but at what cost? 
The emissions from these games are already stressing me out 
.
. It's not just about making it more sustainable; it's also about preserving this unique aspect of winter sports.
) and come up with creative solutions that don't compromise on climate goals. Maybe the IOC can explore new, eco-friendly materials for artificial snow? Or what if they invest in climate-resilient infrastructure for future host cities?
. Let's hope the Olympics can find a way to adapt without sacrificing their essence 
. We need more innovation and less hype; it's time to get real about this 
the whole thing is like our planet is like "hey you can have your olympics but only if you make artificial snow that doesn't kill the earth lol" it's crazy to think about hosting the paralympics in different cities or shifting everything back by two weeks but we need to get real about sustainability here 
i mean, 93 cities are even already qualified to host the Winter Olympics and Paralympics?? that's amazing!!! but now we're worried about it being a thing of the past because of rising temps and snowfall? 
artificial snow is def part of the future, but we gotta make sure it's sustainable lol. like, i know they're trying to improve tech, but 6x more emissions than the last games? that's crazy!!! 
we need to find ways to reduce our carbon footprint without sacrificing the magic of the Olympics.
it's like our whole sports calendar is being rewritten before our eyes. i'm literally counting down till 2026 to see how they'll adapt, but at the same time, we gotta think about the future and make changes ASAP 
seriously though, i hope the IOC can figure out a way to make it work without sacrificing the sport's integrity. maybe they could have outdoor events in different locations with natural snow? idk, just seems like there needs to be a balance between climate change and the olympic spirit 
I mean, what does it even mean to have Winter Olympics if there's no snow? Is it still worth having?