Grenoble, host of the 1968 Winter Games, now experiences shorter, warmer winters and increasingly unreliable snowfall. When the Olympics return to the French Alps in 2030, the city will no longer play a central role.
"I grew up here, and the snow is completely different," Cloetens says. "Over the past 15 years, everything has changed."
Scientists warn that as global temperatures continue to rise, the number of locations capable of reliably hosting Winter Olympic Games will shrink dramatically. The challenge has become serious enough that Olympic organisers are reassessing how and where future Games can take place.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is exploring options such as rotating the Winter Games among a limited group of climate-resilient locations and scheduling competitions earlier in the season. March, once considered suitable for winter sport, is now frequently too warm—particularly for the Paralympic Games, according to Karl Stoss, chair of the IOC's Future Host Commission.
Fewer locations meet future climate conditions
Research used by the IOC suggests that out of 93 mountain regions worldwide with existing elite winter sports infrastructure, only 52 are likely to maintain sufficient snow and cold temperatures by the 2050s. By the 2080s, that number could fall to around 30, depending on global emissions trajectories.
The IOC's requirement that at least 80% of venues already exist further narrows the pool of viable hosts.
Conditions are even more challenging for the Paralympic Winter Games, which follow the Olympics by two weeks. Modelling indicates that moving both events roughly three weeks earlier could significantly increase the number of locations capable of hosting them. Without artificial snowmaking, researchers say, almost no site would be reliable by mid-century.
Several former Olympic hosts are unlikely to meet future climate standards. Chamonix, Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Sochi are among those expected to fall short, while cities such as Vancouver, Oslo and Sarajevo are considered increasingly risky.
"Climate change is fundamentally reshaping where winter sport is possible," one researcher says. "The question is no longer whether this will happen, but how fast."
Snowmaking fills the gap – for now
Artificial snow has been used at the Winter Games since 1980, but reliance on it has grown sharply. Beijing 2022 became the first Olympics almost entirely dependent on manufactured snow.
For the Milan-Cortina Games, organisers plan to produce nearly 2.4 million cubic metres of snow. By contrast, when Cortina last hosted the Olympics in 1956, artificial snow was not used at all.
Modern snowmaking technology can now operate at higher temperatures, allowing organisers to maintain competition-ready courses even under marginal conditions. But experts caution that these solutions have limits.
"Snowmaking works, but only if temperatures remain low enough," says one veteran course builder. "That margin is getting smaller every year."
Environmental and resource constraints
Producing snow requires vast amounts of water and energy. Organisers estimate that nearly one billion litres of water will be needed—equivalent to hundreds of Olympic swimming pools—stored in newly constructed high-altitude reservoirs.
Hydrologists warn that such infrastructure can disrupt fragile ecosystems, even as climate change increases pressure to rely on artificial snow.
"Without water, there are no Games," says one academic expert, noting that demand for snowmaking will only grow.
Rethinking the future of the Games
The environmental footprint of large sporting events has long been under scrutiny. Air travel, construction and energy use contribute significantly to carbon emissions, prompting calls for reform.
In response, Olympic organisers are tightening sustainability requirements, limiting new construction and pushing hosts to reduce water and electricity consumption. Some officials acknowledge that future Games may need to scale back in size.
The IOC has already selected the French Alps for 2030 and Salt Lake City for 2034, citing existing infrastructure and climate suitability. Discussions are ongoing with Switzerland for a potential 2038 Games.
Organisers say the goal is not only to preserve winter sports but to demonstrate how global events can adapt to a changing climate.
"This is the moment," says one senior official involved in planning. "If we want winter sports to survive, we have to change how we do things."