As the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games captivate viewers around the world, both fans and players are concerned about the impact of rising temperatures and extreme weather, with some fearing that outdoor winter sports such as skiing may become a thing of the past, reported earth.org.
Last week, an open letter addressed to the President, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board and IOC Members, urged them to take a series of concrete steps against fossil fuel sponsors. These include establishing a formal dialogue with athlete representatives at the IOC Executive Board level and grounding the dialogue in “science and athlete experience” as well as creating a clear sponsor eligibility policy banning fossil fuel companies and integrating this policy into IOC’s strategic framework. The letter was signed by 88 Olympians and Paralympians and 53 elite athletes “who dream of one day becoming an Olympian.”
“We welcome that the IOC has committed to ensuring that the Olympic Games lead on sustainability and serve as a catalyst for long-term sustainable development. However, accepting that the organizers of the Games may establish partnerships with fossil fuel companies directly undermines these principles,” the letter read. “As our winters melt, summer athletes are simultaneously being pushed to their physical limits by record-breaking heatwaves that gamble with athlete health. We believe it is a contradiction to celebrate human achievement while being funded by the industry that threatens the fundamental conditions, from reliable snow to safe temperatures, upon which all Olympic sports depend.”
The letter also traces the history of major Olympic policy pivot points, comparing today’s change with the decision to go smoke-free for the 1988 games in Calgary, Canada.
It came days after Greenpeace Italy published a video urging the organizers of the Olympics to end their “absurd” partnership with Italian oil and gas giant Eni.
