Climate change clouds future of winter sports

A view shows a closed ski lift amid a lack of snow on a mild winter day at the Hautacam ski resort in Beaucens, Hautes-Pyrenees, southwestern France, February 20, 2024. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

(Reuters) -Pietro Casartelli always dreamed of becoming a professional athlete, but the alpine skier, 18, says climate change is making his goals harder and much more expensive to achieve.

Last year, as his usual high altitude summer ski slopes were melted by record-high temperatures, he had planned to join a training camp in Chile. But the trip was cancelled as too few would-be participants could afford the fees.