Sustainability, Greenwashing, and Environmental Complexities

In the 21st century, in almost every Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games (OCOG) emphasize sustainability policies and the positive long-lasting impact of the event. However, almost every time, they face backlash and criticism over greenwashing. With climate change impacting the natural environment in extreme and unexpected ways, sports and the Olympic Movement are not immune. This chapter discusses sustainability, greenwashing, and the environmental challenges the Olympic Movement faces in the new era, focusing on carbon footprint, shorter and warmer winters, heatwaves, natural disasters, and air and water quality. The chapter focuses on both the scrutiny and the desperation of the IOC, but also on forward thinking within the Olympic Movement, trying to create a future path for the Winter Games amid growing internal and external climate change and extreme weather challenges.ma