Winter sport on thin ice: what a warming world means for the future of the Olympic Games
As attention turns to Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, a growing global conversation is emerging around the future of winter sport itself.
Recent reporting highlights a reality that many in sport and sustainability have been discussing for some time: the conditions that winter sport depends on are becoming less predictable. Warmer winters, reduced snowfall and shorter freezing periods are already affecting traditional host regions, including parts of the Italian Alps preparing to host the Games next year.
While winter sport has always adapted to weather variability, climate change is shifting the baseline. Research commissioned by the International Olympic Committee has found that as global temperatures rise, the number of climatically reliable host locations is expected to decline significantly over coming decades. Under mid-range emissions scenarios, only around half of previously suitable host regions may remain viable by the 2050s.
This is not simply an operational challenge for event organisers. It raises broader questions about the long-term sustainability of snow and ice sports, athlete safety, infrastructure investment and the cultural future of winter competition itself.
Adaptation has limits
The increasing reliance on artificial snow illustrates both innovation and constraint. Snowmaking has become a common solution to inconsistent conditions, but it requires significant energy and water resources and is not considered a long-term answer as temperatures continue to rise.
For athletes, organisers and host communities, the implications extend beyond competition surfaces. Changing snow quality can affect safety and fairness, while warmer conditions introduce greater scheduling uncertainty and operational risk.
More broadly, winter sport is becoming one of the most visible examples of how climate change is reshaping where and how sport can be played.
A moment for sport to lead
For the global sporting community, this moment is less about alarm and more about responsibility.
Sport has always reflected society, but it also has the power to influence it. Major events such as the Olympic Games bring together governments, industry, communities and audiences at a scale few other platforms can achieve. That visibility creates an opportunity to demonstrate practical climate leadership, from energy and infrastructure choices through to circular economy approaches and sustainable procurement.
We are already seeing examples of this transition. Increasing use of renewable energy, venue reuse, and legacy-focused planning are becoming part of the conversation around future Games. The challenge now is ensuring these efforts move beyond individual initiatives and become embedded as standard practice across global sport.
Why this matters beyond winter sport
For organisations across Sports Environment Alliance network, the lesson extends well beyond snow sports.
Climate risk is no longer a future scenario. It is influencing scheduling, venue management, athlete welfare and fan experience across multiple codes - from extreme heat affecting summer competitions to changing rainfall patterns impacting community sport.
The Winter Olympics provide a visible reminder of something SEA members understand well: environmental sustainability is not separate from sport’s future performance and growth. It is foundational to it.
As the Milano Cortina Games continue, the conversation is shifting from whether climate change will affect sport, to how sport responds, and how quickly.
The opportunity now is for sport to continue leading, demonstrating that environmental responsibility and world-class competition can, and must, go hand in hand.