A group of elite winter sports athletes has come together under the banner 'Ski Fossil Free' to advocate against the sponsorship of winter sports events by oil corporations. They have launched a petition aimed at persuading the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to terminate agreements with oil companies such as Italy's ENI, which is currently sponsoring the Winter Olympics. The collective expresses concern that these sponsorships contribute to the climate crisis and undermine the authenticity of winter sports.

The athletes argue that the involvement of oil and energy companies in winter sports creates a paradox, given the detrimental impact these companies have on the environment and winter climates. One of the voices leading this campaign is Ukaleq Slettemark, a Greenlandic biathlete who competes for Denmark and has signed the petition. Slettemark emphasized the ludicrousness of winter sports relying on funding from industries that directly threaten the sustainability of the very seasons necessary for these sports.

The push from these athletes is particularly timely and highlights a growing trend within sports advocacy that seeks to hold corporate sponsors accountable for their environmental impact. This movement not only aims to salvage the integrity of winter sports but also seeks to raise awareness about the broader implications of climate change on seasonal sports events. As the Winter Olympics continue, the pressure on FIS and the IOC to make more responsible sponsorship choices is likely to escalate, initiating further discussions about ethics and sustainability in sports.