With just two years to go until the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, organisers are ramping up snow production, pumping 50,000 cubic metres of artificial snow into the Dolomites to guarantee pristine conditions for skiing and snowboarding events. Despite Cortina d'Ampezzo's ample snowfall at 1,816 metres, artificial snow will account for 85% of total snow at the Games, aiming to ensure fair and safe competition.
However, concerns are mounting among coaches, athletes, and researchers that artificial snow makes sports more unpredictable and dangerous. A 2022 report from Loughborough University found that artificial snow is harder, icier, and denser than natural snow, trapping less air. Madeleine Orr, assistant professor of sport ecology at the University of Toronto and co-author of the report, compared falling on artificial snow to falling on pavement versus grass, noting a higher risk of injury when athletes fall.
Para-Alpine skier Menna Fitzpatrick, Britain's most decorated Paralympian, acknowledged the reliability artificial snow brings to race schedules, but other athletes voiced deeper concerns. Laura Donaldson, a former Scottish freestyle skier, warned that poorly made snow can create dangerous ice walls in super pipes, which have proven fatal. The 2022 Beijing Games were the first fully reliant on artificial snow.
Snowmaking requires vast water resources—27,000 cubic metres for 2026, equivalent to 11 Olympic swimming pools—though organisers say 100% renewable power will be used. Environmental impacts include disrupted plant growth, but the International Olympic Committee insists no chemicals will be added to the snow.
While some athletes, like Fitzpatrick who grew up skiing on indoor slopes, view artificial snow as unremarkable, climate change is complicating training. Shorter snow seasons and erratic weather are forcing teams to travel further to find suitable conditions. The IOC maintains that athlete safety is the primary consideration in course preparation.
