Winter Olympics Could Be Held Sooner Than Ever—What’s Driving the IOC’s Bold Move?

You know, the Winter Olympics have always been a February affair, a tradition etched in stone ever since those Innsbruck Games back in ’64. But with climate change sneaking in like an unwelcome guest, the International Olympic Committee is now seriously mulling over shaking things up—possibly pushing the Winter Games to January and the Paralympics to February. It’s a move that’s wrapped in layers of complexity—not just because of the snow melting risks but also the chaos it could unleash on the sporting calendar with World Cup events, NFL, and NBA clashes waiting in the wings. As the IOC under Kirsty Coventry’s fresh leadership grapples with this enigma, the stakes couldn’t be higher for athletes, fans, and organizers alike. The spotlight is on Milan right now, as these shifts are more than just dates on a calendar; they’re a glimpse into how global warming is rewriting even the most time-honored sporting codes. LEARN MORE

MILAN (AP) — Staging future Winter Games as early as January and the Paralympic Winter Games in February is a possibility because of the effects of warmer temperatures, the International Olympic Committee said Wednesday.

Every Winter Games medal was won in February since the 1964 Innsbruck Olympics opened Jan. 29, and moving to January would likely disrupt scheduling of storied World Cup races and events. It also would more directly clash with NFL and NBA schedules.

The IOC is now reviewing Olympic Games issues in the first year of Kirsty Coventry’s presidency and changing the winter edition dates is an option.

“Maybe we are also discussing to bring the Winter Olympics a little bit earlier,” the IOC member overseeing the sports program review, Karl Stoss, told reporters. “To do it in January because it has an implication for the Paralympics as well.”

The Milan Cortina Paralympic Winter Games will be held March 6-15.

The IOC has long acknowledged under Coventry’s predecessor Thomas Bach that changing climate is a challenge for finding future hosts and organizing competitions.

“(March) is very late because the sun is strong enough to melt the snow,” said Stoss, whose home country Austria is a traditional power in Alpine skiing and ski jumping.

“Maybe the Paralympics will be in February and the other edition will be in January. That would also be a part of our discussion,” he said on the sidelines of the IOC’s eve-of-Olympics meeting in Milan.

The 100-plus IOC members should meet again in June to make decisions about the Olympic reviews, in a program called “Fit For The Future,” and whether to add new sports and events to the 2030 French Alps Winter Games.

The French Alps edition is currently expected to run Feb. 1-17 and the 2034 Utah Winter Games from Feb. 10–26.

___

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics