Ahead of IOC election, 350 Olympians urge candidates to make climate action top priority

NEW DELHI: Around 350 Olympians from 85 countries, including India's Saina Nehwal and PR Sreejesh, have urged the International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidential candidates to prioritize climate action. In a letter addressed to the candidates ahead of the IOC elections in Costa Navarino, Greece, from March 18-21, the athletes called for stronger commitments to reduce carbon emissions, promote sustainability in host cities, regulate polluting sponsors, and use the Olympic platform to advocate for climate action.

"Climate impacts are no longer a distant threat but a present and growing danger to the sports we love and the countries within our Olympic family," the letter stated.

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The signatories, which include 57 Olympic champions and over 100 flag bearers, represent some of the world's most climate-vulnerable nations, such as Argentina, Aruba, the Bahamas, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Cook Islands, Eswatini, Fiji, Ghana, India, Kenya, Laos, the Marshall Islands, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Sierra Leone, and Zambia.

Acknowledging that extreme weather events are already disrupting the Summer and Winter Olympics and affecting athlete performance and safety, the letter calls for decisive action to ensure the Games remain accessible and safe for future generations.

Earlier this year, massive wildfires ravaged large parts of Los Angeles, the host city for the 2028 Olympics. The fires claimed around 30 lives, destroyed thousands of buildings, and displaced tens of thousands of residents.

The athletes have also requested an early meeting with the incoming IOC president to discuss how the Olympic movement can lead the fight against the climate crisis.

Nehwal, India's first Olympic badminton medalist, emphasized, "As athletes, we push ourselves to be the best, but we must also push for a healthier planet. The unity among athletes in this letter is incredible and sends a clear message: the next IOC President must prioritize sustainability to protect the environments where we train, compete, and live."

Olympic champion sailor and IOC Sustainability Ambassador Hannah Mills OBE added, "I don't think we've ever seen so many athletes from around the world speak with one voice. The devastating LA wildfires were a wake-up call: the time to act is now. As a sailor and a mother, this issue is deeply personal. The Olympics have fulfilled the dreams of countless athletes, but my biggest dream is a future where my children can thrive."

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