Winter Olympics Face Sustainability Questions as Russia Competes Under Neutral Banner
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, are facing scrutiny regarding their sustainability promises, while Russian figure skaters are set to compete despite the nation's ban following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The games are scheduled to begin on February 6th with the team figure skating event, a competition that includes women's, men's, pairs, and ice dance.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine, citing violations of the Olympic Truce and the Olympic Charter, according to Time. The IOC initially sanctioned both Russia and Belarus. Despite the ban, Russian athletes will participate under a neutral banner.
Meanwhile, concerns are mounting about the environmental impact of the Italian Olympics. NPR reported that the games, hosted in a town known for catering to the wealthy, were intended to be sustainable. However, questions remain about whether this goal will be achieved.
In other news, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed concerns about potential ICE presence at polling locations during this year's midterm elections. This followed suggestions from former Trump advisor Steve Bannon to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to polling places. According to Time, Leavitt stated she had not heard President Trump consider this, but she did not rule it out, saying, "I can't guarantee an ICE agent won't be around voting locations."
In other news, research published in the International Journal of the Energy-Growth Nexus suggests a link between raising human capital in BRICS countries and lower emissions, according to Phys.org.
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