Here's a look back at the history of the Winter Olympics, including when the first games were held and where they've been hosted.

Olympians in winter sports have been displaying their athletic excellence for years.

The Earth’s climate will be warmer overall in the coming decades. Warmer air can mean more winter rain, particularly at lower elevations. Around the globe, snow has been covering less area. Low snowfall and warm temperature made the start to the 2025-26 winter season particularly poor for Colorado’s ski resorts.

Speed skating is back at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. It was contested at the first Winter Games in 1924, making it one of the oldest and most time-honored sports in the history of the Games.

Staging future Winter Games as early as January and the Paralympic Winter Games in February is a possibility because of the effects of warmer temperatures, the International Olympic Committee said.