Future of the Winter Olympics on thin ice

Although the Beijing Winter Olympics have just reached their end in the Chinese capital, it’s hard to comprehend that winter is really here. The mountains in the Yanqing and Zhangjiakou areas are brown, not white, and some of their ‘scenic views’ include industrial landscapes. When China won the bid for the games, it was with the knowledge that, although the Yanqing and Zhangjiakou mountains are excellent at maintaining the cold, they do not experience snowfall. As a result, all outdoor courses are made entirely of artificial snow.

Artificial snow is not a new phenomenon in the games. In 2014, roughly 80% of the snow was artificial, and in 2018, nearly 98% of the snow was fake. Both Sochi and Pyeongchang typically produce snow in the winter months but use manufactured snow to maintain a consistency on the mountains for skiers and snowboarders. Sochi even stored snow from the previous winter to maintain the conditions needed for the games.

Even at the Vancouver games, snow was being transported by helicopters to maintain safe and fair conditions. Vancouver experienced record-breaking warm weather and heavy rainfall in February 2010, rather un-seasonal for a Canadian winter.

The frequent use of artificial snow in the Winter Olympics signifies just how challenging it is to find ideal conditions for competing in nature alone.

Climate change poses a significant threat to the games. With winters warming at a much quicker rate than summers, the future of the Winter Olympics looks uncertain. A recent study concluded that if greenhouse gas emissions do not lower to the target level set out in the Paris agreement, only one of the games’ previous hosts (Sapporo, Japan) would be able to reliably host the games again in the future. However, if emissions are reduced in line with the Paris agreement, nine cities could host the games again in 2080.

A study from Waterloo University found that in the Alps, only Albertville in France would be able to reliably host the games in 30 years’ time. But, without any change to our greenhouse gas emissions, nowhere in the Alps would be suitable enough to host the games in 50 years.

There are four indicators to measure the safeness and fairness of the conditions needed for the games: unacceptable high or low temperatures, rain, wet snow, and poor snow coverage. Given the need for artificial snow and snow storing in many recent host cities, the effects of climate change on the games have been clear for some time.

Vancouver’s warm weather and heavy rain was a worrying indicator that climate change has begun to threaten the games. In 2014, the weather in Sochi never went below freezing. It is critical to achieve the target set out in the Paris agreement in order to save winter sports and the future of the Winter Olympics. In some ways, it is reassuring that this year the games are hosted in Beijing, where there is little concern over maintaining cold temperatures despite not actually having any snow. China has set out a detailed plan to run the games entirely on 100% renewable energy, claiming all artificial snow to be carbon neutral.

Snow sports have been facing the threat of climate change for some time now. Artificial snow is not uncommon at ski resorts to maintain safe runs for tourists, but artificial snow is approximately 70% ice (whereas real snow is only 30%), making it more dangerous. Many skiers and snowboarders, be they professional or recreational, will have observed the changing landscapes in the mountains they visit. Slushy snow and icy conditions are more frequent, meaning training for athletes is more challenging.

As a result, snowboarder Jeremy Jones has said that winter sports will become "more expensive and exclusive", meaning fewer young athletes will have the capabilities to get into the sport.

The Winter Olympics face an uncertain trajectory as climate change continues to threaten the games. If target emissions for the Paris agreement are not met, the possibility of having any sort of natural Winter Olympics in fifty years is doubtful. Winter sports risk becoming more expensive and exclusive as reliable training locations are diminishing.

With shorter and warmer winters, the conditions required for safe and fair competition are becoming harder to find and maintain, resulting in a high demand for artificial snow. Although China promises to be 100% green in their flurry production, can this really be an environmentally safe option for maintaining the games in the future? 

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