There is no place for the Winter Olympics in a warmer world – science

Of the 21 cities that have already organized the Winter Games, hardly one will be suitable for winter sports at the highest level by the end of the century. Even if the goals of the Paris climate agreement are met, only 8 former host cities will be able to host the event until 2080.

This is the conclusion of Canadian, American and Austrian researchers, who studied how the best snow sports would develop in a warmer world. they Conclusions Featured in the magazine Current issues in tourism.

dangerous

“The world of winter sports is changing as climate change accelerates,” said Daniel Scott, professor of geography and environmental management. “Athletes and coaches surveyed are seeing the impact on competition and training venues, including the Olympics.”

Overall, 89 percent of coaches and athletes believe that changing weather patterns are actually affecting competition conditions. As many as 94 percent fear that climate change will further affect their sport in the future.

In addition to the survey, the researchers also analyzed historical climate data for 21 former host cities, beginning with Chamonix in France in 1924. By combining this data, they created a series of indicators that could indicate unsuitable and dangerous conditions during the Games.

“Professional athletes have sometimes been competing against their best judgment under dangerous circumstances, and with that we are trying to protect them a little bit from themselves,” Scott said.

Sapporo

Of the past 21 games, only nine have met the basic conditions that such an event must meet, according to coaches and athletes. In a scenario where greenhouse gas emissions are not drastically reduced immediately, only Sapporo in Japan will be suitable as a host city by the end of the century.

According to the study, in a scenario where we can keep the temperature rise below 1.5 degrees, we can still largely preserve the Winter Games as we know them. Then eight more host cities could provide reliable conditions in the 1980s.

No sport can escape the consequences of climate change. Achieving the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement is critical to saving winter sports as we know it and ensuring there are places around the world to host the Winter Olympics.”

Of the 21 cities that have already organized the Winter Games, hardly one will be suitable for winter sports at the highest level by the end of the century. Even if the goals of the Paris climate agreement are met, no 8 former host cities will be able to host the event until 2080. That is the conclusion of Canadian, American and Austrian researchers, who have studied how better snow sports would develop in a warmer world. “The world of winter sports is changing as climate change accelerates,” said Daniel Scott, a professor of geography and environmental management. “The athletes and coaches surveyed are seeing the impact on competition and training venues, including the Olympics.” Overall, 89 percent of coaches and athletes believe that changing weather patterns are already affecting competition conditions. 94 percent fear that climate change will further affect their sport in the future. In addition to the survey, the researchers also analyzed historical climatic data on 21 former host cities, beginning with Chamonix in France in 1924. By combining these data, they have a series of indicators. It can indicate inappropriate and dangerous conditions during games. “Professionals sometimes compete against their best judgment under dangerous circumstances, with this we try to protect them a little bit from themselves,” Scott said. The last 21 matches, only nine matches have been fulfilled the basic conditions that such an event must meet according to the coaches and athletes. In a scenario where greenhouse gas emissions are not drastically reduced immediately, only Sapporo in Japan will be suitable as a host city by the turn of the century. The Winter Games as we know them today are still largely preserved. Then eight more host cities could provide credible conditions in the 1980s.” No sport can escape the consequences of climate change. Achieving the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement is critical to saving winter sports as we know it and ensuring there are places around the world to host the Winter Olympics “.