‘Big irony’ as winter sports sponsored by climate polluters, report finds

As global heating cuts snow cover, study reveals how many events, organisations and athletes have high-carbon backers

Winter sports are being sponsored by high-carbon companies despite their pollution helping to melt the snow the sports require to exist, according to a new report.

The report found that more than 100 events, organisations and athletes were sponsored by fossil fuel companies, carmakers and airlines. The sponsorships were like “winter sport nailing the lid on its own coffin”, said one Olympic champion.