This opportunity enhanced their ability to train and prepare for the games. Two of the three Senegalese athletes had strong links with countries in the northern hemisphere, both growing up in the Alps. Three athletes make up the sum total of Senegal’s participation at five different Olympic Winter Games that span a period of 26 years. Senegal made its first of five appearances at the winter Olympics in 1984 in Sarajevo. On the country’s return at the Sarajevo games in Yugoslavia in 1984, a four-man team represented Morocco, once again in Alpine skiing. The Western Sahara conflict contributed to Morocco not competing at the winter Olympics for the next 16 years. It was just over a decade prior, in 1956, that the country gained its independence from French colonial rule. Morocco became the second African country to compete at the winter Olympics when a team of five Alpine skiers represented the country at the 1968 games in Grenoble, France. The country’s return to the winter Olympics was in Lillehammer, Norway in 1994. South Africa was barred from the 1964 games and suspended from the Olympic Movement in 1970. Given the political boycotts against apartheid in South Africa, the country’s first appearance at the 1960 games in Squaw Valley in the US was also their last until democracy. South Africa was the first African country to participate. Of the 15 countries to represent Africa, only seven have participated in more than one winter Olympics. Despite not winning medals, individual athletes have found success and acted as trailblazers in other ways. In many instances they returned to Africa to represent their respective countries at the games.Ī total of 15 African countries have participated at the winter Olympics in 58 years, from 1960 to 2022. Or they left the continent to pursue education and training in regions of the world known for snowy winters.

Many were born to parents with respective European and African heritages and left Africa at a young age to live in the northern hemisphere.

The majority of these Olympians had strong ties with snowbound countries in the northern hemisphere. Despite this, athletes representing African countries have contributed to the Olympic movement’s goals of universality and inclusion. The continent therefore lacks the climate for all winter sports contested outside on snow or ice. The difference between the average warmest and coldest month in Africa is a mere 1.9 degrees and snow is a rarity. The average annual temperature in Africa is 25.7 degrees Celsius. Given the continent’s geography, this is not surprising. Athletes representing African countries have not had any medal success at the Olympic Winter Games so far. Since 1908, they have won over 400 medals at the summer Olympics. In contrast, African countries have done relatively well at the summer Olympic Games, particularly in the middle and long distance running events. But, in general, the overarching theme with African participation in the winter Olympics is in taking part and not winning, as my study of the continent’s history at the winter games shows. These athletes are not touted to win medals in 2022. Five are competing in Alpine (downhill) skiing and one in cross country skiing. At the 2022 Beijing winter games, currently underway, Africa is represented by six athletes from five countries: Eritrea, Ghana, Madagascar, Morocco and Nigeria. A record number of eight African countries competed at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea.

Olympic participants by country