Catalonia has certainly buried the dream of the Winter Games

The Generalitat of Catalonia paraded the candidacy for the Winter Olympic Games during the severe drought in Catalonia and with snow shortages, which all indicate will continue in the coming years due to climate change.

In statements to Catalunya Ràdio, the Secretary of Climate Action of the Generalitat, Anna Barnadas, indicated this Saturday that they have reports that eliminate the possibility to host an event of these qualities.

“Evidence of climate change is a reality that will become increasingly harsh in the sense of water and, seeing the current pictures of the ski resorts – with little snow -, it will be difficult for the Winter Olympic Games to be held in latitudes like in Catalonia,” he said.

Barnadas emphasized that, for the Government, “this is a project that is no longer on the front line” and, in addition, Climate Action has reports advising “extreme caution” in this type of initiatives, due to water scarcity.

Although he pointed out that it is in the Department of the Presidency, headed by Minister Laura Vilagrà, to confirm if it is definitively excluded, he emphasized that Acció Climàtica does not recommend this, because in the latitudes of the Pyrenees “large snowfalls are not expected” either in 2024 or in the coming years.

After the failure of the joint project with Aragon, Catalonia formally made its solo candidacy in July 2022 before the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE), but since then there has been no further development.

As reported this Saturday by the newspaper Ara, the Government is considering the Winter Olympic Games buried, because It does not plan to request new appointments from the COE to assert nor does it predict things for the initiative in the draft budget. of the Generalitat of 2024.