Climate Change Threatens Winter Olympics' Future – National Today

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Warming temperatures and lack of reliable snowfall put the future of the Winter Games at risk.
Apr. 10, 2026 at 3:06am
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The Winter Olympics are facing an existential crisis due to the impacts of climate change. Warming temperatures and declining snowfall are making it increasingly difficult to host the Games, even with the use of resource-intensive artificial snowmaking. Fewer than 20 countries may have the right conditions and infrastructure to host the Winter Olympics by mid-century, with Europe expected to see the largest decline in viable locations. The Paralympics face an even bleaker future, with only 22 of the 93 potential host locations being climate-reliable in March. Experts suggest decoupling the Olympic and Paralympic Games or tackling climate change head-on as potential solutions, but the future of winter sports remains uncertain.
The Winter Olympics are a global symbol of unity and excellence in winter sports, but climate change is quietly dismantling the very foundation of this event. The declining viability of host locations and the resource-intensive nature of artificial snowmaking raise serious questions about the long-term sustainability of the Winter Games. This crisis extends beyond the Olympics, impacting international ski and snowboard competitions and the livelihoods of winter sports athletes.
Just weeks before the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games, patches of bare ground marred the Bormio downhill ski course, forcing organizers to work overtime with snow machines to salvage the event. This is not an isolated incident, as the Rocky Mountains in Park City, Utah, the host of the 2034 Winter Olympics, also experienced their warmest winter on record with dismal early-season snowfall. By mid-century, fewer than 20 countries may have the right conditions and infrastructure to host the Winter Games, with Europe, the historical host, expected to see the largest decline in viable locations due to lower elevations and rising temperatures. The Paralympics face an even bleaker future, with only 22 of the 93 potential host locations being climate-reliable in March.
A 19-year-old U.S. Olympic snowboarder who has lobbied on Capitol Hill for her sport’s future, noting that snowboard half-pipe requires a lot of man-made snow and that as temperatures rise, opportunities for snowmaking are dwindling, putting the future of her sport at risk.
The author of a 2024 study that identified 93 potential host locations for the Winter Olympics, but found that under current emissions trends, only 52 will remain climate-reliable by the 2050s, and a mere 46 by the 2080s.
The CEO of Protect Our Winters, an organization that emphasizes that the real solution to the Winter Olympics crisis lies in tackling climate change head-on, and advocates for stricter emissions policies during the Games and ending sponsorships from fossil fuel companies.
“Snowboard half-pipe requires a lot of man-made snow. As temperatures rise, opportunities for snowmaking are dwindling, putting the future of my sport at risk.”
— Bea Kim, U.S. Olympic snowboarder
“Quickly reducing global emissions would have the biggest impact.”
— Erin Sprague, CEO of Protect Our Winters
“Climate is something we have the solutions for. The Winter Olympics are in jeopardy, but they’re also a symbol of unity the world desperately needs.”
— Bea Kim, U.S. Olympic snowboarder
Experts suggest decoupling the Olympic and Paralympic Games, shifting both events to January or running them simultaneously, which could double the number of climate-reliable locations for the Paralympics by the 2050s. Additionally, quickly reducing global emissions in line with the Paris Climate Agreement goals could add eight more potential host locations by the 2080s.
The shrinking pool of viable Winter Olympics host locations is a wake-up call for the future of winter sports. Tackling climate change head-on, through stricter emissions policies and ending fossil fuel sponsorships, is crucial to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Winter Games and preserving a symbol of global unity and excellence in winter sports.
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