Leading alpine skiers have raised alarm over rapidly shrinking glaciers during the Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Lindsey Vonn said many glaciers she trained on as a child have already disappeared.
Mikaela Shiffrin called the changes a “front-row view” of climate impact on their sport.
Scientists report that Italy has lost more than 200 square kilometres of glacier area since the late 1950s.
Glaciers near Cortina have shrunk dramatically and some no longer meet the minimum size for monitoring projects.
The Marmolada, the largest glacier in the Dolomites, has halved in 25 years and could mostly vanish by 2034 under current warming.
Athletes say glacier retreat is already affecting training conditions.
Cracks, exposed rock and flowing water now limit early-season skiing.
Many warn that fewer suitable venues could threaten the future of the Winter Games.
Glacier loss also endangers water supplies, increases mountain hazards and contributes to sea-level rise.
Researchers say limiting warming to 1.5°C could preserve about 100 Alpine glaciers.
They stress that emission cuts this decade will determine how much ice survives.
Skiers from several nations echoed the concern and urged stronger climate action.
They said winter sport depends on protecting the environment and that the current trend is dangerous without rapid change.
