The future of the Winter Olympic Games is under threat due to climate change, according to Levon Azizyan, head of Armenia’s Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center, who shared his concerns in a Facebook post.
“There are currently 93 cities worldwide with the infrastructure needed to host the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. However, with ongoing global warming, that number is rapidly shrinking. A study released this week suggests that by 2050, only four cities may be able to host the games without relying on artificial snow,” Azizyan wrote.
He noted that this issue has become a priority for the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which is preparing for the 2026 Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
The IOC is reportedly considering several adjustments in response to higher temperatures, including merging the Olympic and Paralympic Games, holding events across multiple cities, or even shifting the traditional start date to colder months for more favorable conditions.
The study found that out of the current 93 potential host cities, only 45–55 may still meet climate criteria by 2050, and just 30–54 by the 2080s.
Azizyan added that rising temperatures are also affecting the Summer Olympic Games. He recalled that during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, marathon events had to be moved to Sapporo to avoid extreme heat. Moreover, the 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane are set to take place during winter months to take advantage of cooler weather conditions.
