The 2022 Winter Olympic Games are set to take place February 4-20 in Beijing, China. CU Boulder experts are available to discuss topics ranging from how declining snowpack impacts winter sports to the role the Olympic diplomatic boycott plays in this year’s games. CU Boulder also has eight confirmed athletes competing this year who will represent Teams USA, Poland, Czech Republic, Canada and Estonia.

On declining snowpack and man-made snow

Noah Molotch, associate professor of geography and fellow at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), uses direct observations and remote sensing to better understand the distribution of snow in mountains around the world. He can discuss how snowpack conditions may change in the future with climate change and the impact of these changes on winter sports and future winter Olympic games, including the science behind and challenges of relying on man-made snow. 

Keith Musselman is a research associate at INSTAAR and serves on the Protect Our Winters (POW) Science Alliance. He can speak to what a warming world due to climate change may mean for precipitation, snowmelt and water resources in the western U.S.

On the diplomatic boycott 

William Wei is a professor of history and specializes in the study of modern China. He can discuss U.S. relations with China and the diplomatic boycott. 

On marijuana in sport

Angela Bryan, professor of psychology and neuroscience, can discuss the impact cannabis has on various aspects of exercise, including sports performance. Bryan has conducted extensive research on the risks and benefits of cannabis, and is currently studying the effects of marijuana use on workouts.

On transgender athletes 

Professor Roger Pielke Jr. can discuss new International Olympic Committee (IOC) guidelines regarding transgender athletes and athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD). Pielke founded and directed the CU Sports Governance Center (2016-2019) and is the author of The Edge: The War Against Cheating and Corruption in the Cutthroat World of Elite Sports. In 2019, his research called into question rules requiring women with high testosterone to medically lower it in order to compete among women. The IOC recently walked back those rules, effective after the Winter Games.

This year’s #OlympicBuffs

This list includes only confirmed athletes, and will be updated with more Olympians and Paralympians on this page.

  • Alev Alvar (ethnic studies): Nordic skiing, Team Estonia.
  • Stacy Gaskill: snowboarding, Team USA.
  • Taylor Gold: snowboard halfpipe, Team USA.
  • Cass Gray (integrative physiology): alpine skiing, Team Canada.
  • Petra Hyncicova (integrative physiology): Nordic skiing, Team Czech Republic.
  • Weronika Kaleta (mathematics and psychology): Nordic skiing, Team Poland.
  • Magdalena Luczak (business): alpine skiing, Team Poland.
  • Joanne Reid (mathematics and technology, media & society): biathlon, Team USA.