Climate Change Threatens Future Viability of Winter Olympics Amid Rising Temperatures
The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics are facing significant challenges due to climate change, with weather conditions in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, highlighting the issue. Forecasts predict rain, severe ice warnings, and temperatures above freezing, which could turn snow into ice or slush, unsuitable for skiing. This has led to increased reliance on artificial snow, a trend that has grown since its introduction at the 1980 Lake Placid Games. Recent Olympics, such as those in Sochi, Pyeongchang, and Beijing, have increasingly depended on man-made snow due to warmer temperatures. Experts like Jonathan Belles and Kaitlyn Trudeau emphasize that climate change is making it harder to host Winter Games, with less reliable snowpack and warmer temperatures threatening the viability of traditional winter sports venues. 
