Only one in 21 existing venues could host the Olympics in future if emissions stay the current course, a study has found.
The Games, kicked off on February 4th, will be the first Winter Olympics to allow almost 100% of the snow to ski, with over 100 snow guns and 300 snow cannons deployed, covering the sloped at high pressure.
New research criticises Beijing’s use of artificial snowfall at next week’s Winter Olympics, saying it is dangerously dangerous for athletes and environment, and says climate change will reduce the number of Olympic venues in future
Due to a shortage of snow and high temperatures, the organizers decided to cancel the women’s slalom after only 19 riders, but only after French Olympic champion Victor Muffat-Jeandet fell and injured his ankle.
Of the 21 venues which have hosted the Winter Olympics since the first took place in Chamonix in 1924, researchers expect that by 2050, only 10 will have the “climate suitability” and natural snow limits to host an event.
In 2010, Vancouver carried snow away by helicopter during the Games and in 2014’s Sochi, the warmest city during the Winter Olympics, organizers stored tons of snow from past winters as an emergency measure.
The study found that in many regions of the world, a reduction in the availability and quantity of water for synthetic snow was due to climate change, thus endangering the global snow sports industry.
New report: climate change is threatening the future of the #WinterOlympics, reducing the number of suitable venues for the event around the globe.
The upcoming #Beijing2022 Games, will be the first to rely almost 100% on artificial snow. @SportEcoGroup https://t.co/6C4bY7GFcq
— Climate Council (@climatecouncil) January 26, 2022