The International Olympic Committee is considering shifting future Winter Olympic Games from their traditional February schedule to January to secure colder weather and more natural snow, amid growing concerns about the impact of global warming on snow reliability. The idea, discussed during an IOC session in Milan this week, comes as rising global temperatures have reduced predictable snow cover in many traditional winter sport regions, making March competitions — particularly the Paralympics — increasingly vulnerable to melting conditions.
Karl Stoss, head of the IOC’s Olympic Programme Working Group, said moving the Winter Olympics to January could also allow the Paralympic Winter Games to be held in February instead of March, when warmer sunlight makes maintaining snow difficult in many venues. If adopted, this change would mark a significant break from the historic pattern of awarding medals in February, a tradition stretching back to the 1964 Innsbruck Games.
The proposal is part of the IOC’s broader “Fit For The Future” review under new President Kirsty Coventry, aimed at adapting the Games to environmental and logistical realities. An IOC study suggests that by 2040 only about 10 countries may be climatically reliable hosts for snow sports if current warming trends continue, underscoring the urgency of considering schedule changes and long-term adaptations.
Discussions will continue ahead of a meeting in June where IOC members are expected to revisit the timing and other structural proposals for future Winter Games.
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