Speaking out about the impact of climate change on Winter Olympics

Winter Olympics such as those only weeks away at Sochi in Russia will feel the feel the real impact of climate change.

That reality has not gone unobserved by many athletes who compete at such events and already some competitors are speaking out about the consequences of climate change on their chosen sport.

An article published in Sustainable Play headed: “Sochi Olympians speak out against climate change” tells U.S. cross country skier Andy Newell who is headed for Sochi with a clear aim  — to stand atop the podium — he’s traveling to the Games with more than precious metal on his mind.

For the past two months, Newell, 30, has quietly appealed to his fellow Olympians to leverage the Sochi Games as an opportunity to speak to world leaders about the ravages of global climate change on the winter snowpack.