Athletes from around the world are in the Italian Alps for the opening of the 2026 Winter Olympics on Friday – including 13 sportspeople from eight African countries. Though the continent isn't associated with winter sports,

Black athletes from around the world are competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, with Team USA, Canada, Jamaica, Nigeria, Benin, Madagascar, Eritrea and Kenya all represented in various sports and disciplines.

Fourteen athletes from eight African nations are set to compete at the Winter Olympics, marking a significant increase from Beijing 2022.

The Olympic Games have historically rejected Black athletes based on race, banned them for protesting, disqualified them for their natural physical attributes, and established a gatekeeping culture of anti-Blackness that often tries to keep their successes and credits at bay-but Black athletes have always persevered.