The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is exploring the possibility of holding future Winter Olympic Games in January instead of the traditional February, in order to create optimal conditions for snow sports competitions.
This decision is a consequence of global warming and the lack of natural snow, which complicates the preparation and use of snow tracks. Moving the Olympics could also create issues with the World Cup schedules, as well as overlap with the NFL and NBA seasons, complicating the situation for athletes and broadcasters.
Karl Stoss, an IOC representative, commented:
“We are considering the possibility of moving the Games to January, as March is becoming too late - the sun's warmth is already actively melting the snow. This also applies to the Paralympic Games.”
According to IOC research data, by 2040 only ten countries will be able to host Winter Olympic and Paralympic competitions in snow sports. At the Beijing Olympics in 2022, almost entirely artificial snow was used for the first time, created with the help of more than 100 generators.
The final decision regarding a possible change of dates will be made at the IOC meeting in June as part of the "Fit For The Future" initiative, which also considers the inclusion of new sports in the 2030 Games in the French Alps and the 2034 Games in Utah.
