January 1, Olympic Athletes Target Oil While Relying On It

Wyatt’s Take

• Athletes demand Olympics cut fossil fuel sponsors despite relying on oil-based gear
• Petition ignores fact that skis, apparel, and travel use petroleum
• Critics call out hypocrisy as alternatives fall short

Over 21,000 people, including Winter Olympic athletes, signed a petition urging the Olympic Committee to review accepting sponsorships from oil companies. The petition says fossil fuels are making winters shorter and insists on shifting to alternative energy.

“If we don’t transition away from fossil fuels to other less harmful sources we have no chance of combating the climate crisis,” the petition reads.

Gabriella Hoffman, a conservation group director, pointed out that almost all athletic gear and winter clothing are made from petroleum products. Most skis, ski poles, nylon, and polyester depend on oil and natural gas.

Despite this reliance, petitioners are asking for less oil influence in sports without mentioning their own use of petroleum. There is no sign that these athletes plan to stop using gear or travel linked to fossil fuels.

“It’s hard to take lectures from self-described ‘influencers’ demanding everyone else sacrifice modern life while they jet around from continent to continent,” said Larry Behrens of Power the Future.

Some campaigners claim alternatives would save trillions but critics note that research supporting this claim leaves out the costs of keeping wind and solar reliable. Even projects meant to replace fossil fuels, like green hydrogen, have failed despite major government funding.

One apparel maker promised to move everything to 100% recycled materials by 2024 but fell short. Most of its products are still made from petroleum-based synthetics, though some recycled content has been added.

The campaign’s website also alleges that oil companies’ advertising is the only real reason people use fossil fuels, even comparing energy use to doctors once promoting smoking. Some critics call this misleading and out of touch with how products are actually made.

Full story at Just the News

Wyatt Matters

Heartland folks know you can’t build a future on empty slogans. Most of what we use depends on common-sense oil and gas, whether for jobs, warmth, or sports. There’s no skipping facts just to score points.