ByEmma SmithBBC Sport journalist at Main Press Centre, Milan<\/p>\n
International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry says it must "be better" on climate change after receiving a petition signed by more than 21,000 people who want to stop fossil fuel companies from sponsoring winter sports.<\/p>\n
The petition – delivered on Wednesday and with athletes among the signatories – comes as Italy's Eni, one of the world's seven biggest oil companies, is a 'premium partner' of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.<\/p>\n
It follows reports that the number of countries which could reliably host a Winter Olympics will hugely reduce in the future<\/a> because of climate change.<\/p>\n Asked by the BBC whether she is disappointed by the Games having high-carbon sponsors, Coventry said: "It's really nice athletes have a platform to speak up.<\/p>\n "The petition, I know they met with our team today and we are having conversations in order to be better, and for our stakeholders to be better. But that takes time."<\/p>\n Winter Olympics 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n Milan-Cortina, February 6-22<\/p>\n 02\/02\/26<\/p>\n Watch on iPlayer<\/a>Listen on Sounds<\/a><\/p>\n Christophe Dubi, the IOC executive director for the Olympic Games, added: "We make a point to receive those petitions, and we have to recognise climate is a challenge for all of us.<\/p>\n "What we have to do as an organisation is to be at the forefront of sustainability, and our principles are very clear."<\/p>\n One area the IOC is aiming to make the Olympics more sustainable is having Games take place over a wider area with more pre-existing facilities, and Coventry said Milan-Cortina is an acid test for whether this is a viable future.<\/p>\n Milan-Cortina takes place in three hubs spread across northern Italy – in Milan, Cortina and Livigno – with only two newly built sporting facilities: the Santagiulia ice hockey arena and Cortina Sliding Centre.<\/p>\n The next two Winter Olympics – French Alps 2030 and Utah 2034 – will also have sports spread more widely, while the 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane is will have venues across Queensland.<\/p>\n This has caused issues however, with Brisbane organisers saying, external<\/a> they will go beyond the originally stated budget of $4.9bn (\u00a33.6bn).<\/p>\n "We are really experiencing a spread out Games here for the first time – we are going to learn a lot," Coventry said.<\/p>\n "We have taken this decision for sustainability reasons, climate and not having to have new venues. We are seeing there is an impact on National Olympic Committees because of the spreadness [sic], also for broadcast and media, making it harder to get around.<\/p>\n "What is really cool is that you get to see iconic venues in beautiful places – but now we have to weigh this up, the balance between a spread games for sustainability reasons but not shifting complexity and sustainability to different areas."<\/p>\n While the action got underway on Wednesday with the start of the curling events, the 2026 Winter Olympics will officially start with the opening ceremony on Friday.<\/p>\n Coventry said she hoped all nations would be treated with respect by spectators, including the USA team amid criticism from Italian authorities about the presence of ICE agents in Milan.<\/a><\/p>\n "I hope the opening ceremony is seen by everyone as a chance to be respectful," she said.<\/p>\n "For me, when we went to the Olympic village that is the best reminder of how the Games should be. I hope the opening ceremony will do that."<\/p>\nRelated topics<\/h2>\n