Every schoolchild knows that global warming affects the whole world. The fact that it is already affecting the Winter Olympics is an unforeseen problem of recent years.

Alpine ski resorts covered with desolate slopes during the winter season, glaciers continuing to melt, rising temperatures making skiing and many snow sports virtually impossible, and the need for artificial snow (which exacerbates the problem through energy consumption), as seen at the recent Beijing Winter Games, are unfortunate constants in today's world.

A century after the first games were held in Chamonix in 1924, the outlook is bleak. Despite some government action, emissions are rising and studies suggest that climate warming will continue. This is leading to a drastic reduction in snow and suitable venues for sport. This, of course, has implications for future Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

"We must quickly address this dramatic impact of climate change on winter sports," said IOC President Thomas Bach at the 141st IOC Session in Mumbai, India, in October. "By the middle of the century, there will be virtually only 10 to 12 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) capable of hosting these events on snow."

The IOC may not be able to do much other than look for alternative venues, double allocation of editions or co-location of games. But it could try to use the massive propaganda apparatus that is the Olympic Games, both summer and winter, on this issue that affects sport and life in general. 

While awareness alone will not be enough, it will help people put pressure on their governments to include a more sustainable world on the agenda, especially in countries that host winter games and contribute to unchecked emissions.

"There is no doubt that we are facing significant challenges, and our goal is to ensure that we can continue organising successful Winter Olympic Games in the future," said Karl Stoss, President of the IOC Future Host Commission for the Winter Olympic Games. "Every challenge brings risks and opportunities."

From an organisational point of view, the reduction in the number of potential host cities could be an additional problem to the limited budget that the IOC always seems to face at the Winter Games. 

The IOC does not believe in the urgency of taking action, but rather in finding alternatives for sports, many of which are artificial and contribute even more to gas production and future problems. "I don't think there is an apocalyptic scenario where we say, OK, no more Winter Olympics by 2050," said Christophe Dubi, Executive Director of the Olympic Games at the IOC. "But the Games will have to adapt to the conditions of that time." 

In other words, there is a problem, but the IOC seems to see it more as a future issue. The preservation of business and sporting practises seems to be more important than a fundamental solution, despite the influence that the committee and its directives could have.

Things are currently moving on the premise of preserving the Games and the power of the IOC. Whether this is right or wrong remains to be seen, but it seems inadequate, especially when we are talking about an organisation that interacts with the global political elite.

In recent years, there have been proposals from both the IOC and the World Session, as well as from the seven International Federations of Olympic Winter Sports. They all agree on the need to ensure the survival of the Winter Games, which is understandable because each party is looking after its own interests.

However, it is not enough if these same federations do not try to persuade governments, politicians and business leaders to make a complete change in environmental policy, which is currently neither sustainable nor environmentally friendly, despite numerous declarations over the last 25 years.

This policy of survival will not be enough if it is not accompanied by attempts to make profound changes that will make the world more sustainable and thus ensure the longevity of the Games themselves.

Unless ways are found to raise awareness and change the reality that global warming affects us all in every aspect of our lives and will affect future generations in their daily lives, the Winter Olympics, such as Milan-Cortina 2026 or the upcoming Youth Games in Gangwon 2024, may well be the last, at least in their current format.