Climate change is threatening the Winter Olympics, to start on February 6 in northern Italy. An analysis from Climate Central, a global organisation of scientists working on climate change, warns that the world athletic event will be affected deeply by rising temperatures, disappearing snow and increasing reliance on artificial snow.
It has led to the worry whether winter games will be viable in the future at all.
Artificial snow surge
The Winter Olympics this year will require more than 3 million cubic yards of artificial snow, despite being hosted in the high-altitude Italian Alps. The events will be centred around the town of Cortina in northern Italy. Most of the indoor events will take place in Milan and most outdoor events will be hosted near Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Given the circumstances, concerns abound about the safety, fairness and long-term viability of outdoor winter sports. Use of artificial snow raises concerns about the safety of the outdoor games.
Winter warming
The Climate Central analysis finds that In the seven decades since Cortina first held the Winter Games in 1956, the temperature in the town in February has warmed by 3.6° Celsius. Since then, the town experiences 41 fewer freezing days annually.
The average February snow depth in Cortina has gone down with climate change-induced temperature rise by about 15cm between 1971 and 2019, the analysis adds. It also points out that average February temperatures in the last 19 host cities had risen by 2.7° Celsius between 1950 and 2021.
The analysis mentions a 2024 study by Robert Steiger and Daniel Scott that claims that out of 93 potential host cities, only 52 will have the conditions to host the Winter Olympics in the 2050s.
Paralympics greater concern
The future looks worse for the Winter Paralympics, to start this year on March 6. Only 22 out of 93 potential host cities will have the right conditions for the event in the 2050s, due to climate change-induced temperature rise.
The analysis points out that climate change is affecting specific winter sports, including alpine skiing, snowboarding, and bobsledding. Shortened seasons, event cancellations, fairness and safety challenges are all linked to warming and artificial snow and ice.
Risk factors
Resistant and hard surfaces are a prerequisite for elite winter competitions, as they ensure fair and safe conditions for athletes.
If surfaces do not refreeze, the risk of injuries goes up. Athletes who feature later in the start list are likely to experience less favourable conditions, says the analysis.
With rising temperatures, it has also become difficult for athletes to find places to practise for the winter sports.