sports
February 6, 2026
House of ice on a warming planet: Italy’s turn for the Olympics winter mirage
There will be twists, flips and turns to savour in a Games whose financial and environmental costs nonetheless continue to spiral out of control
TL;DR
- The Winter Olympics originated as a 10-day "winter sports week" in Chamonix in 1924, officially designated retrospectively as the first Winter Games.
- The Games have grown significantly in size, with the Milano Cortina edition featuring 3,500 athletes from 93 countries competing in 16 events over 19 days.
- The article highlights concerns about the escalating financial costs, citing Sochi 2014 as the most expensive Games and the construction of a new ice hockey arena in Milan for a short-term use.
- Environmental impact is a major issue, with organizers using large amounts of artificial snow and engaging in construction that has reportedly lacked environmental impact assessments, all while global warming affects natural snowfall.
- The IOC's efforts towards sustainability are questioned, particularly when construction for events involves environmental damage.
- Despite its growth, the utility of many Winter Olympic sports beyond recreation is questioned, with some originating as aristocratic pastimes.
- The trend towards shared hosting and grounding Games in countries with winter sports cultures is noted, but challenged by developments like Saudi Arabia's planned desert resort for winter sports.
- The article concludes that while the Games provide entertainment, their escalating costs and environmental impact are increasingly disproportionate.
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