Winter Olympics Must Confront Environmental Impact as Snow Vanishes
Skimo competitors navigate the course in the women’s sprint event in Bormio, a scene that could become rare. By the end of this century, climate change threatens to reduce the number of cities reliably cold enough to host the Winter Olympics from 21 to just eight. The challenges seen at Milano Cortina 2026, such as artificial snow production and remote transport links, are set to become more common.
Rhetoric Versus Reality in Olympic Sustainability
In response to petitions urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to drop fossil fuel sponsors, President Kirsty Coventry stated the body is "having conversations in order to be better" on climate change. However, a report by the New Weather Institute estimates that sponsors like Eni, Stellantis, and ITA Airways could increase the Games' carbon footprint by 40%, melting 3.2 square km of snow and 20 million tonnes of glacier ice.
Martin Müller, a professor at the University of Lausanne, highlights the difficulty in assessing Olympic sustainability. His research from 1992-2020 found that even basic data is often lacking, undermining transparency for these multi-billion-dollar events. The IOC's Olympic Games Impact initiative, launched in 2000 with 126 indicators, was abandoned in 2017 after host cities criticized its rigor, allowing organisers to make unchecked sustainability claims.
Financial and Ecological Strains of Hosting
Müller defines a sustainable sports event as one that minimises ecological impact, promotes social wellbeing, ensures economic viability, and implements accountable governance. Yet, the Olympics consistently face financial shortfalls. Research from the University of Oxford shows every Games since 1960 has exceeded cost forecasts by an average of 159%, with Winter Games at 132%.
Milano Cortina 2026 has already surpassed its $1.3bn budget, reaching $1.7bn, with an additional $3.5bn in public infrastructure investment. Historical trends suggest hosts often underestimate inflation, leading to budget overruns. Instances like Sochi 2014, where money was not properly accounted for, and Nagano 1998, with destroyed financial records, underscore the financial mismanagement.
Proposals for a Greener Future
With 91% of IOC revenue from broadcasting and sponsorship, Müller argues the body can prioritise environmental efforts without altering its business model. Spectator travel accounts for 410,000 of the 930,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent at Milano Cortina 2026. To reduce this, Müller suggests a geographical contingency scale for ticket pricing and spreading events across multiple locations to cut long-distance travel.
This approach would also leverage existing venues, reducing new infrastructure needs. As potential hosts seek to downsize the Games, failure to act could lead to declining bids and community backlash against overtourism. Müller emphasises that rethinking the Olympics to focus on sports and athletes is crucial as winter conditions become scarcer.
The urgency for sustainable standards grows, challenging the IOC to align its rhetoric with reality before the snow runs out.
