Future-Proofing Olympic Winter Games: Climate Responsibility, Sustainable Venues, and Strategic Hosting Plans
Tomorrow marks the centenary of the Olympic Winter Games, symbolizing a transformative century of alpine sports influenced by advancements in technology and societal development. Commemorating a century of snow and ice sports, we contemplate the future of the Games and their ability to adapt to upcoming challenges.
In 1924, 258 athletes representing 16 national teams gathered in the picturesque Alpine town of Chamonix, France, laying the foundation for what would become the inaugural Olympic Winter Games. Since that historic moment, the Games have undergone significant evolution, emerging as the preeminent winter sports spectacle globally. Presently, over 3,000 athletes hailing from more than 90 National Olympic Committees participate in a diverse range of disciplines, including recent additions like freestyle skiing and ski mountaineering.
“Although Chamonix 1924 was only officially designated ‘Olympic’ by the IOC in 1926, it was nonetheless a key moment in the history of Olympism and the Olympic Games,” said International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach. “And with the exception of two editions, the event has been a permanent fixture on the Olympic calendar for a century, garnering huge excitement every time, with winter sport on snow and ice continuing to fascinate.”
Including the inaugural edition held in Chamonix from January 25 to February 5, 1924, a total of 24 editions of the Olympic Winter Games have been hosted across 21 regions and 13 countries. In Chamonix, out of the 258 athletes, only 13 were women. Fast forward nearly a century to Beijing 2022, where 2,871 athletes participated, with women comprising 45% of the participants – a proportion expected to rise to 47% at Milano Cortina 2026.
Originally rooted in European sports practices accessible to a select few, the Games have played a pivotal role in introducing winter sports to broader audiences, catering to both professionals and amateurs. They have also elevated host regions onto the global stage of world-class resorts, offering a diverse array of winter and warm-weather activities.
The positive impact on host regions extends beyond the event itself. Chamonix, for instance, experienced enhanced national and international reputation following the Games, leading to a consistent increase in visitor numbers. Presently, the town welcomes over 8 million overnight visitors annually, evenly distributed between winter and summer seasons.
Over the century, lesser-known mountain regions worldwide have capitalized on the Games' momentum to develop enduring tourism infrastructure, sustainable transportation options, entertainment events, and sports facilities available throughout all seasons. From Sapporo to Innsbruck, Olympic hosts have broadened their tourism offerings to encompass not only sports but also cultural attractions, contributing to temporary and permanent job creation in sectors like hospitality, construction, security, and event management.
Beyond economic benefits, the Olympic Winter Games have had a lasting impact by inspiring individuals, communities, and entire regions to adopt healthier lifestyles, engage in mountain sports, and enjoy the physical and mental benefits of sporting activities. The most recent example, Beijing 2022, showcased how residents, including urban dwellers, embraced winter sports, with an estimated 350 million Chinese people participating in winter sports leading up to and following the Games. By the end of 2025, around 5,000 schools across the country are expected to include winter sports in their curriculum.
Looking ahead, the evolution of winter sports has brought about a heightened awareness of the vulnerability of the environment crucial to their existence. Presently, climate change stands as a significant menace, posing a direct threat to both individuals and their sources of livelihood, particularly imperiling sports dependent on snow and cold weather.
Throughout the years, organizers of the Games have utilized the event as a platform to shed light on the mountain environment and emphasize the imperative need for its preservation. Labeled as the inaugural "green" Games, Lillehammer 1994 established clear sustainability objectives for the Games' planning and execution. Over time, initiatives like Olympic Agenda 2020 and Olympic Agenda 2020+5 have seen the International Olympic Committee (IOC) reinforce sustainability criteria for the Games.
“As with all sectors, winter sport will need to adapt to the impacts of climate change and mitigate their effects,” said President Bach. “This thinking was very much at the forefront when we adopted Olympic Agenda 2020 and Olympic Agenda 2020+5, inspired by the mantra of ‘change or be changed’. The IOC and the Olympic Movement are seeking to reduce our impact on the environment, not only to contribute to the greater good of society, but also so that sport, and notably winter sport, can continue to contribute towards creating a better world.”
In the present era, potential Olympic hosts are required to showcase climate-responsible initiatives. Starting from 2030, Games organizers will be compelled to minimize their emissions, aim to offset more carbon than the Games generate, and actively promote climate action among others.
With a substantial 89% of permanent venues from previous Olympic Winter Games still in operation, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) insists that no infrastructure should be solely constructed for the Games. Organizers are urged to prioritize existing and temporary venues. If new facilities are introduced, they must cater to the enduring needs of the local community, ensuring year-round utilization. The flexibility of hosting events outside the primary hosting region or even beyond the host country is recognized.
Given the escalating global temperatures, a projection suggests that only 10 to 13 nations may have the capability to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games by 2040. This concern has prompted the IOC to endorse the concept of a dual award for two consecutive Olympic Winter Games – the 2030 and 2034 editions – if suitable conditions prevail.
This approach aims to secure the well-being of athletes and the Olympic Movement, allowing the IOC to explore strategies for ensuring the future of winter sports. Potential solutions include rotating the Olympic Winter Games among a pool of climate-reliable hosts, integrating innovations and new technologies, co-hosting ice and snow events across different regions, and decentralizing the organization of the Olympic Winter Games by outsourcing specific competitions to experienced international and national event organizers.
“For the last hundred years, people have been speaking about the magic of the Games. Our duty and responsibility is to ensure that this is the same in the next hundred years,” said Christophe Dubi, the IOC Olympic Games Executive Director. “Society at large, and athletes in particular, are calling for activities – sports, events and the Olympic Games – to be socially, economically and environmentally responsible. We are responding to these calls.”
In 1924, 258 athletes representing 16 national teams gathered in the picturesque Alpine town of Chamonix, France, laying the foundation for what would become the inaugural Olympic Winter Games. Since that historic moment, the Games have undergone significant evolution, emerging as the preeminent winter sports spectacle globally. Presently, over 3,000 athletes hailing from more than 90 National Olympic Committees participate in a diverse range of disciplines, including recent additions like freestyle skiing and ski mountaineering.
“Although Chamonix 1924 was only officially designated ‘Olympic’ by the IOC in 1926, it was nonetheless a key moment in the history of Olympism and the Olympic Games,” said International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach. “And with the exception of two editions, the event has been a permanent fixture on the Olympic calendar for a century, garnering huge excitement every time, with winter sport on snow and ice continuing to fascinate.”
Including the inaugural edition held in Chamonix from January 25 to February 5, 1924, a total of 24 editions of the Olympic Winter Games have been hosted across 21 regions and 13 countries. In Chamonix, out of the 258 athletes, only 13 were women. Fast forward nearly a century to Beijing 2022, where 2,871 athletes participated, with women comprising 45% of the participants – a proportion expected to rise to 47% at Milano Cortina 2026.
Originally rooted in European sports practices accessible to a select few, the Games have played a pivotal role in introducing winter sports to broader audiences, catering to both professionals and amateurs. They have also elevated host regions onto the global stage of world-class resorts, offering a diverse array of winter and warm-weather activities.
The positive impact on host regions extends beyond the event itself. Chamonix, for instance, experienced enhanced national and international reputation following the Games, leading to a consistent increase in visitor numbers. Presently, the town welcomes over 8 million overnight visitors annually, evenly distributed between winter and summer seasons.
Over the century, lesser-known mountain regions worldwide have capitalized on the Games' momentum to develop enduring tourism infrastructure, sustainable transportation options, entertainment events, and sports facilities available throughout all seasons. From Sapporo to Innsbruck, Olympic hosts have broadened their tourism offerings to encompass not only sports but also cultural attractions, contributing to temporary and permanent job creation in sectors like hospitality, construction, security, and event management.
Beyond economic benefits, the Olympic Winter Games have had a lasting impact by inspiring individuals, communities, and entire regions to adopt healthier lifestyles, engage in mountain sports, and enjoy the physical and mental benefits of sporting activities. The most recent example, Beijing 2022, showcased how residents, including urban dwellers, embraced winter sports, with an estimated 350 million Chinese people participating in winter sports leading up to and following the Games. By the end of 2025, around 5,000 schools across the country are expected to include winter sports in their curriculum.
Looking ahead, the evolution of winter sports has brought about a heightened awareness of the vulnerability of the environment crucial to their existence. Presently, climate change stands as a significant menace, posing a direct threat to both individuals and their sources of livelihood, particularly imperiling sports dependent on snow and cold weather.
Throughout the years, organizers of the Games have utilized the event as a platform to shed light on the mountain environment and emphasize the imperative need for its preservation. Labeled as the inaugural "green" Games, Lillehammer 1994 established clear sustainability objectives for the Games' planning and execution. Over time, initiatives like Olympic Agenda 2020 and Olympic Agenda 2020+5 have seen the International Olympic Committee (IOC) reinforce sustainability criteria for the Games.
“As with all sectors, winter sport will need to adapt to the impacts of climate change and mitigate their effects,” said President Bach. “This thinking was very much at the forefront when we adopted Olympic Agenda 2020 and Olympic Agenda 2020+5, inspired by the mantra of ‘change or be changed’. The IOC and the Olympic Movement are seeking to reduce our impact on the environment, not only to contribute to the greater good of society, but also so that sport, and notably winter sport, can continue to contribute towards creating a better world.”
In the present era, potential Olympic hosts are required to showcase climate-responsible initiatives. Starting from 2030, Games organizers will be compelled to minimize their emissions, aim to offset more carbon than the Games generate, and actively promote climate action among others.
With a substantial 89% of permanent venues from previous Olympic Winter Games still in operation, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) insists that no infrastructure should be solely constructed for the Games. Organizers are urged to prioritize existing and temporary venues. If new facilities are introduced, they must cater to the enduring needs of the local community, ensuring year-round utilization. The flexibility of hosting events outside the primary hosting region or even beyond the host country is recognized.
Given the escalating global temperatures, a projection suggests that only 10 to 13 nations may have the capability to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games by 2040. This concern has prompted the IOC to endorse the concept of a dual award for two consecutive Olympic Winter Games – the 2030 and 2034 editions – if suitable conditions prevail.
This approach aims to secure the well-being of athletes and the Olympic Movement, allowing the IOC to explore strategies for ensuring the future of winter sports. Potential solutions include rotating the Olympic Winter Games among a pool of climate-reliable hosts, integrating innovations and new technologies, co-hosting ice and snow events across different regions, and decentralizing the organization of the Olympic Winter Games by outsourcing specific competitions to experienced international and national event organizers.
“For the last hundred years, people have been speaking about the magic of the Games. Our duty and responsibility is to ensure that this is the same in the next hundred years,” said Christophe Dubi, the IOC Olympic Games Executive Director. “Society at large, and athletes in particular, are calling for activities – sports, events and the Olympic Games – to be socially, economically and environmentally responsible. We are responding to these calls.”
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