Natural snowfalls have declined in some regions due to rising temperatures, while water scarcity negatively impacts snow-making. Under these circumstances, the existence of the global snow-sport industry is at stake. Speaking at a press conference in Mumbai alongside the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s executive board meeting on Oct 13, IOC president Thomas Bach revealed that unless the impact of climate change is addressed, by 2040 only ten countries – down from 15 today – will be able to host the Olympic Winter and Paralympic Games, according to preliminary results of a study by the IOC’s future commission for Winter Games.
Fifteen National Olympic Committees (NOCs) currently boast at least 80 percent of the required facilities. Still, by 2040, five of these will no longer benefit from the necessary climatic reliability needed to host the Winter Games, said Bach. This is one of the reasons why the IOC is considering the double allocation of two successive Winter Games in 2030 and 2034 to give itself additional time to imagine a new model. The proposal will be discussed further at the IOC executive board in November to have the election for the hosts of the 2030 and 2034 Winter Games by the IOC Session in 2024, in the week leading up to Paris 2024. A new organizing model for the Winter Games is expected to debut in the 2038 edition.
