Snow lacking, French ski resort turns to new activities

The Hautacam Ski Resort in southwest France has had a mostly snowless winter. In January, the Pyrenees Mountains resort rebranded itself the “Hautacam Beach” on social media, showing deckchairs and barbecues instead of white slopes and hot chocolate. The resort now featuring hiking, cycling and even bicycle zip-lining. Warming weather systems and a shorter season are threatening winter sports across Europe, forcing the cancellation of ski races and other events.

Class discussion: How drastically will global warming change which sports we play and watch? Has extreme heat or severe storms tied to climate change impacted any of your own activities? Will the changes severely limit when and where sporting events like the Olympics or the World Cup are held?? How much of the economy depends on watching and playing sports? How much of your time is devoted to playing or watching sports? Can you estimate how much your family spends on sports?