The athletes’ appeal comes with the concerning note that climate change impacts “is no longer a distant threat, but a current and growing harm to the sports we love and to the countries that make up our Olympic family”
By Salam Rajesh
With climate change dialogues reaching a crescendo worldwide, considering the evident impacts visible throughout the globe in the present times, world class athletes have come together to urge global leaders to act on the urgency in addressing the issue proactively.
In the wake of climate change-driven impacts, including the recent devastating wildfires in Los Angeles (host city of the 2028 Olympic Games), over 350 Olympians from 50 different sports have come together to urge the incoming President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to make the care of the planet their number one priority.
Later this month (18-21 March) in Costa Navarino, Greece, IOC members will be voting to select one from amongst seven candidates for the top post in the world of sports. Olympians from around the world have sent in a letter addressed to the potential (select) candidate urging that while underscoring the pressing reality of climate change, to take cognizance on the priorities towards climate change implications globally.
The athletes’ appeal comes with the concerning note that climate change impacts “is no longer a distant threat, but a current and growing harm to the sports we love and to the countries that make up our Olympic family”.
Unprecedented in its nature, over a hundred Olympic flag bearers have lent their voice to the letter, including many from some of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations like Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Cook Islands, Eswatini, Fiji, Ghana, India, Kenya, Laos, Marshall Islands, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Sierra Leone and Zambia.
Asserting that extreme weather events are already disrupting the Summer and Winter Games in recent years, and impacting athlete performance and safety, the letter requests decisive action to ensure that the world’s biggest sporting event remains accessible and safe for the future generations.
The recent Tokyo Olympics 2020 was largely cited for the harsh summer heat condition under which the athletes had to compete in the open, with the sweltering heat undermining their overall performances.
The petitioning Olympians have further called for strengthening of the IOC’s existing commitments to cut carbon emissions, championing sustainability in Host Cities, setting an agreed standard around polluting sponsors, and using the IOC’s platform to advocate for environmental action.
The letter noted that the Paris 2024 Games successfully halved the carbon footprint of previous Games, while noting that the Los Angeles 2028 host committee is yet to confirm its climate related targets despite the reality of climate strike early this year.
The petition letter was spearheaded by British Olympians, including Double Olympic Champion sailor and IOC Sustainability Ambassador Hannah Mills OBE, who says, “I am not sure we have ever seen so many athletes from around the world speak with one voice. The terrible Los Angeles wildfires could not have been clearer, the time is now to set a course for a safe, bright future”.
Striking a hard note, the collective letter stressed that this year’s devastating wildfires in Los Angeles – host city of the 2028 Olympic Games – are a stark reminder of why bold action is needed today for the future.
Rising temperatures and extreme weather events are already disrupting competition schedules, putting iconic venues at risk and affecting the health of athletes and fans, while extreme heat is raising real concerns about whether the Summer Games can be held safely in future years, and Winter Games are becoming harder to organize with reliable snow and ice condition diminishing annually. There are even reports of artificial snow being transported in bulk to facilitate the damning absence of snow at the sporting venue. This is no longer a distant threat, but a current and growing harm to the sports we love and to the countries that make up our Olympic family, the athletes said.
Thorsten Margis, Quadruple Olympic Champion (Bobsleigh, Germany), says, “In bobsleigh, every fraction of a second counts – you have to push with full power from the start, work as a team, and give every effort into reaching the finish line. Climate action and strong leadership from the IOC are no different: we need bold teamwork and a clear path forward to protect our planet – and with it, the future of the Olympic Games. If we wait too long or lose focus, we risk crashing into consequences we can’t undo”.
Sharing Margis’s concern, African 100m record holder and Kenya’s flag bearer at the Paris 2024 Games, Ferdinand Omanyala reflects that, “A healthy environment is essential – not just for athletes, but for everyone. Here in Kenya and around the world, we are already experiencing the harsh realities of climate change, from extreme weather to rising temperatures. We can’t afford to wait. Protecting our planet must be top priority so that both athletes and communities can thrive in a cleaner, more sustainable world”.
Adam van Koeverden, Olympic Champion and flag bearer for Canada at the Beijing 2008 Games, asserted that “This letter from over 340 Olympians across the world couldn’t be clearer: the next IOC President must make climate action their top priority. Athletes see firsthand how environmental changes affect our sports, and increasingly our countries too. We need bold leadership that safeguards both the future of the Games and the well-being of communities worldwide”.
The athletes’ indicated concerns reflect the serious deliberation on the implication of the three planetary crises – global warming, climate change and extreme weather events – that are largely seen to be critical to the future of Earth’s natural systems, and thereby affecting all life forms for the worse.
The debates and discussions at the various Conference of Parties (COPs), held under the umbrella of the United Nations, are roughing it out as in the high seas with those unpredictable waves. The push and pulls are equally rough, with the fossil fuel lobby on the one side and the climate campaigners on the other side. Power and politics play a crucial role in the decision-making processes, and much are stuck in-between, neither gaining foothold on a solid decision nor coming to a decisive agreement on the pathway to net-zero.