IOC plans to shift Winter Olympics earlier to combat climate change

International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry announced that the schedule for future Winter Olympics and Paralympics could be moved up by a month to address climate change concerns.

Speaking ahead of the Milan Cortina Winter Games' opening ceremony, Coventry noted that the IOC is considering holding the Winter Olympics in January instead of February and shifting the Paralympics from March to February, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

"There is potentially going to be a need for us to look at adjustments of times," she said following the IOC Session in Milan.

"(Paralympics) are right now later in March, and that might be a way, if we bumped things forward. All of these ideas have been written down and taken note," Coventry stressed.

Karl Stoss, the IOC member responsible for the sports program review, added that some Summer Olympic sports could be moved to the Winter Games in 2030, which are planned for the French Alps.

The 2026 Winter Olympic Games will take place from February 6–22 in the Italian cities of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Winter Games have traditionally taken place in February, but rising temperatures now threaten stable snow conditions and the smooth running of events, prompting discussions about adjusting the schedule.

According to preliminary data, the 2030 Olympics in the French Alps are planned for February 1–17, while the 2034 Olympics in the U.S. state of Utah are scheduled for February 10–26.

Moving the competitions to January could create logistical challenges and disrupt the schedules of iconic races and World Cup events in skiing and snowboarding. Additionally, hosting the Games in January may compete for viewers’ attention with the ongoing NFL and NBA seasons in the United States.

IOC members are expected to meet again in June to make a decision following the Olympic review, including whether to add new sports and events to the French Alps program for the 2030 Winter Olympics.

By Jeyhun Aghazada