Beijing Winter Olympics: Artificial Snow!
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games take place between 4 -20 February and, for the
very first time, almost all the snow for the events will be artificial.
According to a ‘Slippery Slopes’ Report published on 26 January 2022 by the Ecology Group
at Loughborough University, UK, and ‘Protect our Winters’, climate change is threatening
the Winter Games.
Artificial snow is harder making conditions more dangerous for skiers, snowboarders and
bobsledders, resulting in injury and possibly deaths.
The Report points out that man-made warming is threatening the long-term future of winter
sports generally and, in particular, reducing the number of suitable host venues for future
Winter Games.
Although China has pledged to deliver a ‘green and cleaner’ Games, the production of
artificial snow is energy and water-intensive, decreasing biodiversity.
According to Peter Speight, a British Winter Olympian, man-made snow is a not a solution to
climate change, and adds:
“
We need to solve climate change at the source rather than rely on mitigation-focused
solutions
.”
For further information on the Report, log onto: ‘https://www.lboro.ac.uk/media-centre/press-
releases/2022/january/how-climate-change-is-threatening-winter-olympics/’.
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ’
