International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry says it must "be better" on climate change after receiving a petition signed by more than 21,000 people who want to stop fossil fuel companies from sponsoring winter sports.
International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry says it must "be better" on climate change after receiving a petition signed by more than 21,000 people who want to stop fossil fuel companies from sponsoring winter sports.
The petition - delivered on Wednesday and with athletes among the signatories - comes as Italy's Eni, one of the world's seven biggest oil companies, is a 'premium partner' of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
It follows reports that the number of countries which could reliably host a Winter Olympics will hugely reduce in the future because of climate change.
Asked by the BBC whether she is disappointed by the Games having high-carbon sponsors, Coventry said: "It's really nice athletes have a platform to speak up.
"The petition, I know they met with our team today and we are having conversations in order to be better, and for our stakeholders to be better. But that takes time."
Christophe Dubi, the IOC executive director for the Olympic Games, added: "We make a point to receive those petitions, and we have to recognise climate is a challenge for all of us.
"What we have to do as an organisation is to be at the forefront of sustainability, and our principles are very clear."
One area the IOC is aiming to make the Olympics more sustainable is having Games take place over a wider area with more pre-existing facilities, and Coventry said Milan-Cortina is an acid test for whether this is a viable future.
Milan-Cortina takes place in three hubs spread across northern Italy - in Milan, Cortina and Livigno - with only two newly built sporting facilities: the Santagiulia ice hockey arena and Cortina Sliding Centre.
The next two Winter Olympics - French Alps 2030 and Utah 2034 - will also have sports spread more widely, while the 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane is will have venues across Queensland.
This has caused issues however, with Brisbane organisers saying they will go beyond the originally stated budget of $4.9bn (£3.6bn).
"We are really experiencing a spread out Games here for the first time - we are going to learn a lot," Coventry said.
"We have taken this decision for sustainability reasons, climate and not having to have new venues. We are seeing there is an impact on National Olympic Committees because of the spreadness [sic], also for broadcast and media, making it harder to get around.
"What is really cool is that you get to see iconic venues in beautiful places - but now we have to weigh this up, the balance between a spread games for sustainability reasons but not shifting complexity and sustainability to different areas."
While the action got underway on Wednesday with the start of the curling events, the 2026 Winter Olympics will officially start with the opening ceremony on Friday.
Coventry said she hoped all nations would be treated with respect by spectators, including the USA team amid criticism from Italian authorities about the presence of ICE agents in Milan.
"I hope the opening ceremony is seen by everyone as a chance to be respectful," she said.
"For me, when we went to the Olympic village that is the best reminder of how the Games should be. I hope the opening ceremony will do that."
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Category: General Sports
