Calgary's Climate Resilience Positions It as Future Winter Olympics Host
A groundbreaking study published in January 2026 reveals that Calgary stands among a rapidly diminishing number of global locations with climates sufficiently cold to reliably host the Winter Olympic Games by the 2050s. While Calgary chose not to bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, research indicates it may become one of the world's few viable hosting candidates within three decades due to its unique climatic advantages.
Shrinking Pool of Climate-Reliable Host Cities
The comprehensive research, led by University of Waterloo professor Daniel Scott with co-authors from the University of Innsbruck and University of Toronto, examined 93 mountain locations currently possessing the winter infrastructure necessary for Olympic hosting. The findings present a sobering outlook: only 52 cities worldwide would maintain reliably cold enough climates to welcome the Winter Games by the 2050s.
The situation appears even more challenging for the Paralympic Games, where researchers identified just 22 locations that could be considered reliable hosts by 2050. This number is projected to decline further to only 16 viable locations by 2080, highlighting the accelerating impact of climate change on winter sports infrastructure.
Calgary's Unique Climate Advantages
According to Professor Scott, Calgary's viability stems from multiple factors working in concert: "It's both the snowpack and the ability to make snow, as well as the temperatures needed to make that snow." The city benefits from its proximity to the Rocky Mountains, significant distance from coastal warming influences, and reliable snow depth that creates favorable conditions for winter sports.
Shawn Marshall, a climatologist with the University of Calgary, emphasizes that Calgary "still gets real winters and long winters," a characteristic becoming increasingly rare in potential host cities worldwide. The study defines climate reliability as having sufficient snow depth and cold temperatures in at least nine out of ten winters, with winter conditions extending consistently through March.
North American Leadership in Climate Reliability
The research positions Calgary as "the best, most climate-reliable in a Canadian context and one of the best in a North American context" according to Professor Scott. Remarkably, Calgary emerges as one of only four locations worldwide that could potentially host a March Paralympic Games by the late 21st century.
While Vancouver, host of the 2010 Winter Olympics, could maintain climate reliability with strategic adaptations—such as eliminating North Vancouver as an Olympic venue and moving skiing events to higher elevations in Whistler—Calgary's natural advantages require fewer modifications.
Adapting Olympic Planning for Climate Realities
The study builds upon research published two years earlier, offering practical suggestions for adapting the Games to rising global temperatures. Proposed adaptations include merging the Olympic and Paralympic events, shifting competition schedules by several weeks, or implementing multi-country hosting arrangements to distribute climate risks.
Professor Scott emphasizes the importance of comprehensive climate assessment in Olympic planning: "It also means assessing the climate six to eight weeks before the Games and then during, according to Scott. 'Do you get enough natural snow? Or can you make a snow pack the operational depth that the IOC wants? Do you get sufficient cold that will maintain that snowpack or allow you to mix a bit more if you need to?'"
Future Implications for Winter Sports
The research underscores the urgent need for international sports organizations to reconsider traditional approaches to Winter Olympics hosting. As the pool of climate-reliable cities continues to shrink, cities like Calgary that maintain favorable winter conditions will become increasingly valuable assets in the global sports landscape.
The study's findings highlight not only Calgary's potential future role in international winter sports but also the broader challenges facing athletic competitions in an era of accelerating climate change. With careful planning and adaptation, however, the research suggests that winter sports traditions may continue in select resilient locations like Calgary for decades to come.
