Olympic demand for ‘unproven’ ice therapy is unsustainable, scientists say

Researchers say 650 tonnes on order for Paris Games is a potential stress on local and regional resources

From cold-water swimming to ice baths, deliberately freezing yourself has been hailed as a panacea for everything from menopause symptoms to arthritis, headaches and immunity conditions.

And for sportspeople, ice is widely used to aid recovery after exercise. But now researchers have said the clinical benefits of ice therapy are not evidence-based and its popularity is bad for the environment.