2023-10-27 03:02:53
October 27, 2023, 1:00 PM
The opening of the Alpine Ski World Cup will take place on the Rettenbachferner in Sölden on Saturday and Sunday. Traditionally on the last weekend in October, although there is no real winter feeling. Warm temperatures well into autumn and a lack of snow: the consequences of climate change can no longer be denied. Media write regarding a “small white stripe” that “runs through a desert of rubble”. And ask the question: Is sticking to the early start date, is the whole winter sports circus even still up to date?
The elaborate preparation of the small white strip has been causing protests from citizens and environmental protection organizations since the summer. As the start of the season approached, prominent top athletes also spoke out critically: “To what extent should we adapt our environment to a schedule that we want? Or should we adapt our schedules to the environment?” asked record World Cup winner Mikaela Shiffrin. Many athletes, including Austrians, joined in, while others declared the criticism to be counterproductive. Finally, the discussion also reached politics: Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) asked whether “skiing on the last remnants of the glacier really needs to be done now.”
The associations are reacting extremely disgruntledly to the debate – and with them the tourism industry, which needs the large-scale events with public appeal as an “economic engine”. But can that work when the ski circus is now almost on a par with Formula 1 as a synonym for climate-damaging, outdated mass events? How might it come to this? And mightn’t it be done differently and more sustainably?
The professional snowboarder Manuela Mandl is, among other things, an ambassador for the organization “Protect our Winters”, which calls itself the “voice of the outdoor community for climate protection”. In 2018, Manuela Mandl was world champion in the Freeride World Tour, now also an FIS competition; This year she ended her career with another top spot. “Sport is a quality of life,” she says today – an experience in and with nature, not once morest it. Even though she knows firsthand that a ski season is planned well in advance and the schedule cannot be easily upset.
A Tyrolean state politician recently demanded that we also have to think regarding “economic sustainability”. The Innsbruck economist Robert Steiger is researching the sustainable future of economy and ecology, tourism, business and the environment at the University of Innsbruck.
Manuela Mandl and Robert Steiger discuss with Xaver Forthuber and our listeners regarding the image of snow sports in times of climate change, regarding structures, wrong paths and a sustainable future: Call the show on 0800 22 69 79 or write an email Email to punkteins(at)orf.at
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#Skination #climate #crisis #p.m
