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The 2026 Winter Olympic Games will take place Feb. 6–22 in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. As the Games approach, CU �Ǹ�Թ� experts are available to discuss how climate change, nationalism and global media shape the modern Olympics. CU �Ǹ�Թ� also has several students and alumni set to compete, representing multiple national teams.

Contact cunews@colorado.edu to request an interview. 

Nationalism, politics and the Olympic Games

Jared Bahir Browsh, assistant teaching professor of ethnic studies and incoming director of CU �Ǹ�Թ�’s Critical Sports Studies program, researches nationalism and sport. He recently taught a course examining the social, political and economic impacts of the Olympics over its 130-year history. He can discuss how competitions in the Olympics often transcend athletic achievement to become arenas for national pride and international rivalry.

Behind the scenes: Broadcasting the Olympics

Michael Burns, a communication professor, will work with NBC’s Today Show, his 9th Olympics with the network. He works with the production management and logistics team and oversees their team of “runners,” who are typically current college students or recent graduates interested in learning more about news, sports, and production and event management.

Climate change, snowpack and winter sports

Keith Musselman, research associate at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) and member of the Protect Our Winters Science Alliance, studies mountain hydrology and snowpack. He can discuss how climate change is affecting snowfall, snow reliability and water resources and what those trends mean for winter sports.