Winter Olympics Report 2: Trouble Building

The Opening Ceremony of the twenty-fifth Olympic Winter Games weren’t held at a winter sport venue, but instead the event took place at the San Siro football Stadium - a site not without controversy.

Ahead of the ceremony, reporter Matt Rendell explored how the Winter Games are part of a continued series of so-called mega-events; driving ever-increasing property prices and gentrification, all at a high cost to local people.

Many locals object to the way their city has become a destination for sponsors and organisers who hold events with few local connections - typically with fossil fuel sponsors - while charging steep prices to the public.

Matt will be reporting from the Olympic and climate frontlines in Italy for the New Weather Institute and the Cool Down Network. He’ll be producing regular reports on the Games, the environment and the movement to kick fossil fuel advertising and sponsorship out of sport.