"Staging future Winter Games as early as January and the Paralympic Winter Games in February is a possibility because of the effects of warmer temperatures, the International Olympic Committee said Wednesday. Every Winter Games medal was won in February since the 1964 Innsbruck Olympics opened Jan. 29, and moving to January would likely disrupt scheduling of storied World Cup races and events."
"It also would more directly clash with NFL and NBA schedules. The IOC is now reviewing Olympic Games issues in the first year of Kirsty Coventry's presidency and changing the winter edition dates is an option. Maybe we are also discussing to bring the Winter Olympics a little bit earlier, the IOC member overseeing the sports program review, Karl Stoss, told reporters. To do it in January because it has an implication for the Paralympics as well."
"The IOC has long acknowledged under Coventry's predecessor Thomas Bach that changing climate is a challenge for finding future hosts and organizing competitions. (March) is very late because the sun is strong enough to melt the snow, said Stoss, whose home country Austria is a traditional power in Alpine skiing and ski jumping. Maybe the Paralympics will be in February and the other edition will be in January."
The International Olympic Committee is evaluating shifting future Winter Olympics to January and Paralympic Winter Games to February because warming temperatures threaten late-season snow. Every Winter Games medal has been won in February since 1964, and moving to January would disrupt World Cup scheduling and more directly clash with NFL and NBA calendars. IOC officials warned that March timing can be too late because stronger sun can melt snow. The Milan Cortina Paralympic Winter Games are currently scheduled for March 6-15. IOC members will meet in June under the Fit For The Future program to decide on schedule changes and potential additions to future Winter Games.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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