The 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina, Italy, have opened amidst unusually warm temperatures for February, raising concerns about the impact of climate change on winter sports. With temperatures climbing to 4.5 degrees Celsius, fans have had to shed heavy winter clothing, contrary to expectations for an event that relies heavily on cold weather. This year sees a significant rise in average February temperatures in the region, which have increased by 3.6 degrees over the past 70 years. The data from Climate Central highlights a concerning trend, with fewer days below freezing and a notable decline in the amount of snowfall in the Dolomites region, where Cortina is situated.

As the Winter Olympics approach, the frequency of freezing days in the region has dropped by 41 days compared to the average during the 1956 Olympics, alongside a 15 cm decrease in snowfall from 1971 to 2019. These changes raise pressing questions about the sustainability of hosting winter sports in a warming climate, leading to discussions among the International Olympic Committee (IOC) about potentially moving the games to an earlier date in January to compensate for warmer conditions in February and March. If left unaddressed, climate change could threaten the viability of winter sports events across the globe, as temperatures in all past Winter Olympic cities have risen by an average of 2.7 degrees since 1950, highly surpassing the global average temperature rise of 1.4 degrees.

The situation in Cortina reflects a broader trend of decreasing reliable winter sports venues worldwide, prompting urgent debates on how to adapt to climate change for the future of the Olympics. As athletes prepare for the 2026 games, the long-term implications of these weather changes serve as a stark reminder of the need for sustainable practices in hosting international sporting events, especially those that rely on winter weather conditions.