Petition Delivered to IOC Urges End to Fossil Fuel Sponsorship

A petition with more than 21,000 signatures was delivered to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Milan, calling for an end to fossil fuel company sponsorships in winter sports. The delivery took place two days before the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

The petition was handed to Julie Duffus, the IOC’s head of sustainability, at a hotel in Milan. This action was part of broader efforts by campaigners to address the presence of fossil fuel sponsors at the event.

Greenpeace activists staged a protest in Milan the day before the opening ceremony. During the demonstration, they displayed a model of the Olympic rings covered in black oil to highlight their opposition to fossil fuel sponsorship.

Italy’s Eni, a major oil company, is listed as a premium partner for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The involvement of fossil fuel companies in sponsorship roles has drawn attention from environmental groups and members of the public.

What the numbers show

• More than 21,000 people signed the petition delivered to the IOC
• In Italy, 64% of the public support ending oil company sponsorship of the Winter Olympics
• In France, 74% support ending oil company sponsorship of the Winter Olympics

Greenpeace Italy released a video referencing a 2024 scientific study funded by the IOC. The video stated that over half of potential Winter Olympics host cities are projected to become “climate-unreliable” by the 2080s.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry said the IOC is “having conversations in order to be better, and for our stakeholders to be better,” in response to the petition. This statement was made following the delivery of the petition in Milan.

IOC Executive Director for the Olympic Games, Christophe Dubi, stated that the IOC makes a point to receive petitions and must recognize that climate is a challenge for all. These comments addressed the concerns raised by activists and the public regarding sponsorship and climate issues.

Public opinion data published by the New Weather Institute in January 2026 indicated strong support for ending oil company sponsorships of the Winter Olympics in both Italy and France. These findings have contributed to ongoing discussions about the future of sponsorship in international sporting events.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.