The end of the twentieth century witnessed a growing global awareness of climate change. In 1996, the environment was formally established as the third pillar of Olympism, alongside sport and culture. Since then, cities bidding to host the Olympic Games have been expected to demonstrate a commitment to environmental sustainability and encouraged to ‘demonstrate a responsible concern for environmental issues, [and take] measures to reflect such concern in its activities and educate all those connected with the Olympic Movement as to the importance of sustainable development.’ This emphasis on environmental communication has gradually influenced the Olympic ceremonies of the twenty-first century, where host nations have incorporated ecological narratives to frame their national pasts, as well as a global present and future, in relation to sustainable development and environmental awareness. This PhD project examines the Beijing 2008 Summer and 2022 Winter Olympics through an analysis of bid documents, ceremony footage, official reports, media guides, and press interviews with ceremony organisers.