Winter Olympics Mascot Symbolizes Climate Crisis Ignored by Organizers

The choice of stoats — small, weasel-like creatures whose fur shifts from brown to white with the seasons — as mascots for the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics is more than a quirky nod to local wildlife. It is an unintentional symbol of the alarming challenges wrought by climate change, a crisis striking at both nature and American interests abroad. Yet Olympic organizers have so far failed to highlight this vital connection. How Much Longer Can We Ignore Climate Signals Hidden in Plain Sight? Stoats rely on seasonal camouflage for survival, turning white in snowy winters to evade predators. However,...