SkiFreak Posted February 20 Report Posted February 20 During the opening week of this year's Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, the BBC published this interactive feature about the future of the Winter Olympics, and comparisons between 1956 and 2026, and what global warming holds for the future of the games. Pretty eye-opening. Here's the link: BBC: The Future of the Winter Olympics Be sure to scroll down so you can change the pictures (to see the comparisons between 1956 and 2026), and there are interactive features throughout the article. The most interesting being the globe you can rotate and zoom in on and see what could be potential hosting sites in years to come. I was surprised Whistler is not on it 😮. It definitely will be interesting to see how the earth will warm-up by the time we get to Utah 2034. Quote
BigVic Posted February 20 Report Posted February 20 The French Alps Olympics are scheduled to run from Feb 1-Feb 17 2030 which will be earlier than usual but aligns with past Olympics. Utah 2034 will be interesting with climate change. 1 Quote
Gonzo Posted February 22 Report Posted February 22 Rumors of major changes coming up with possible vote at next IOC session in June Sliding sports may get axed (due to track costs), some summer sports may move over to Winter games (Volleyball & Handball mentioned) Quote
JMarkSnow2012 Posted February 22 Report Posted February 22 42 minutes ago, Gonzo said: Sliding sports may get axed (due to track costs), some summer sports may move over to Winter games (Volleyball & Handball mentioned) The regional hosting model should make it possible to re-use specialised facilities from earlier games. It'd be a shame to lose bobsleigh Quote
yoshi Posted February 22 Report Posted February 22 Not as big a shame as losing skeleton Any source for this, because I really don't like the idea of putting summer sports in there either... 1 Quote
Sir Rols Posted February 22 Report Posted February 22 (edited) 20 minutes ago, JMarkSnow2012 said: The regional hosting model should make it possible to re-use specialised facilities from earlier games. It'd be a shame to lose bobsleigh Yeah, snd I think the IOC has already shown it’s wiling, if not encouraged, the use of existing tracks even in other countries. It was only the stubbornness snd pride of the Italians that stopped bobsled in 2026 being in Lake Placid. I doubt it will be chopped. Edited February 22 by Sir Rols 1 Quote
Gonzo Posted February 22 Report Posted February 22 paywalled https://www.sportandpolitics.de/streicht-das-ioc-bob-rodeln-und-skeleton-aus-dem-olympischen-programm-3/ https://duncanmackayveritas.substack.com/p/the-cappuccino-edition-16-bobsleigh 1 Quote
Faster Posted February 22 Report Posted February 22 4 minutes ago, Gonzo said: paywalled https://www.sportandpolitics.de/streicht-das-ioc-bob-rodeln-und-skeleton-aus-dem-olympischen-programm-3/ https://duncanmackayveritas.substack.com/p/the-cappuccino-edition-16-bobsleigh Does not make sense when the next 3 hosts all have active sliding centres. And the only hosts I have heard as potential backups for when Switzerland falls through also have tracks in place or just in need of renovation. Also the list of places that can host the OWG all are near enough to a track that it should never matter at this point anymore with the exception of Almaty. 1 Quote
Sir Rols Posted February 23 Report Posted February 23 I’ve read Duncan Mackay’s piece now (had to subscribe, but I;ve always had tremendous regard for his reporting), and it is very interesting. We may well be in line for a bloodbath in June if his sources are correct. I’m on the fence a bit about what he says is being talked about - the axe really does need to be taken to the program, but some of those mentioned really will be painful. Yikes! I’m going to be away in June. I may miss out on some big drama. Quote
Gonzo Posted February 23 Report Posted February 23 1 hour ago, yoshi said: summer sports but what is the definition of a "summer" sport volleyball, handball, soccer, basketball for example all their major leagues play during the winter Quote
yoshi Posted February 23 Report Posted February 23 A sport in the summer Olympics - not played on snow or ice. I'm very intrigued by this Duncan Mackay post @Sir Rols, it's under pay wall for me too (thought substack was free?) Does that archive site have the article? Without being too pompous about it this forum is pretty much the only place where this kind of subject is publicly discussed, so it probably deserves a thread of its own if it's as big as the comments here make it sound. Quote
Gonzo Posted February 23 Report Posted February 23 one article says the IOC wants to wean off the sliding sports because it does not fit the woke IOC agenda as it uses up too much power & water plus not mention the fact that germany dominates it Quote
Sir Rols Posted February 23 Report Posted February 23 53 minutes ago, Gonzo said: but what is the definition of a "summer" sport volleyball, handball, soccer, basketball for example all their major leagues play during the winter There’s a lot to be said for that. Intellectually, it’s a good case. But it really comes down to what the games mean, and the identity of the two editions. What becomes of the Winter Games if you dilute the ice and snow focus? Do they then become a lesser B-grade version of the Summer Games instead of the snow/ice festival gives them their current identity? And when would such changes take place? Would they be foisted upon French Alps, Utah or Switzerland? Any or all would have a good case to say that’s not what we planned or signed up for. I’m open minded, but there’s so many ramifications that could come out of it. If Kirsty really does proceed with such plans, it would be a major break from the Bach “the more sports the merrier” philosophy. I mean, the LA program really is over-the-top and not even trying to play lip service to the notion of capping the size of the games. 1 Quote
Gonzo Posted February 23 Report Posted February 23 Reddit post (so take with grain of salt) saying that 2034 will be the last games with sliding sports included Quote
Victorian Posted February 23 Report Posted February 23 Duncan Mackay is a great journalist and I trust his sources. Quite concerned to be frank. Quote
Sir Rols Posted February 23 Report Posted February 23 (edited) Another question: Would Kirsty have the strength and authority to push through such major reforms. She got elected on her first round, but just by the barest majority (49-48). Has she stacked the major positions with her own loyal lieutenants? The likes of Eliasch will probably fight tooth and nail, and he’s already proving to be quite influential. Ditto a number of major IFs and NOCs. Seems to be quite an undertaking for her to take up so early into her term. Edited February 23 by Sir Rols Quote
Gonzo Posted February 23 Report Posted February 23 1 hour ago, Sir Rols said: And when would such changes take place? 2034 would have to be the last of the "traditional" games and then a hard reset for 2036/38 with summer sports dropped in 36 swapping over to 38 Bidding for 38 can reopen if Switzerland don't want it Quote
Sir Rols Posted February 23 Report Posted February 23 7 minutes ago, Gonzo said: 2034 would have to be the last of the "traditional" games and then a hard reset for 2036/38 with summer sports dropped in 36 swapping over to 38 Bidding for 38 can reopen if Switzerland don't want it It would have to be. But that’s an awful long lead time for opposition to grow. And we’ve also had reports during Milano-Cortina that the IIC us firming up on Switzerland for 38. If Kirsty can pull it off, my respect for her will grow immensely. The IOC is an organisation that has baulked and been stymied in the past at even getting Modern Pentathlon dropped. But this would be treading on a lot of toes. Quote
Gonzo Posted February 23 Report Posted February 23 12 minutes ago, Sir Rols said: But that’s an awful long lead time for opposition to grow Kirsty would need to strike will the iron is hot as they say IOC session in June this year - announce and vote on all the future sports for 2032 and beyond and in which edition they will be held in Quote
Sir Rols Posted February 23 Report Posted February 23 2 minutes ago, Gonzo said: Kirsty would need to strike will the iron is hot as they say IOC session in June this year - announce and vote on all the future sports for 2032 and beyond and in which edition they will be held in She’d need to get the votes first. And if you read Duncan’s second piece, right beneath the reforms story, it appears her performance at Milano didn’t exactly convince many about her authority or her handle on the organisation. 1 Quote
SkiFreak Posted February 23 Author Report Posted February 23 From another article I read last week (unfortunately the source eludes me, it was either the BBC or CBC), the IOC is looking at moving the games to January, so the Paralympics can be moved up to February. Makes sense as snow conditions in March can be crap nowadays. And as for summer sports being added, I heard on a radio broadcast that they're looking at adding cycling to the winter games. Not sure if this will go well with those athletes that compete in both winter and summer events, like Canada had Clara Hughes who did speed skating and cycling. Quote
Bear Posted February 23 Report Posted February 23 I was under the impression that the Winter IFs strongly objected to the presence of summer sports at the Winter Olympics? I could have sworn Coventry or another IOC figure had mentioned that in a previous press conference... Quote
Gonzo Posted February 23 Report Posted February 23 26 minutes ago, SkiFreak said: the IOC is looking at moving the games to January The IOC may look at it but NBC will say no, more chance Paralympics move to January Quote
StefanMUC Posted February 23 Report Posted February 23 40 minutes ago, SkiFreak said: From another article I read last week (unfortunately the source eludes me, it was either the BBC or CBC), the IOC is looking at moving the games to January, so the Paralympics can be moved up to February. Makes sense as snow conditions in March can be crap nowadays. And as for summer sports being added, I heard on a radio broadcast that they're looking at adding cycling to the winter games. Not sure if this will go well with those athletes that compete in both winter and summer events, like Canada had Clara Hughes who did speed skating and cycling. Cycling only for cross events, not track (which would also be ludicrous to add a velodrome, even if temporary, for winter hosts). Quote
krow Posted February 23 Report Posted February 23 36 minutes ago, Bear said: I was under the impression that the Winter IFs strongly objected to the presence of summer sports at the Winter Olympics? I could have sworn Coventry or another IOC figure had mentioned that in a previous press conference... i bet they do, it's one of the dumbest things i've ever heard. Quote
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