The 2026 Winter Olympics will begin this week when competitors walk under the wave of their nation's flags at Friday's Opening Ceremony. The ceremony not only offers Olympians a chance to represent their country on the international stage,

Eritrean athlete Shannon-Ogbnai Abeda took up skiing reluctantly but will retire after his third Winter Olympic Games in Milano Cortina following a career forged against the odds.

Over six decades since an African nation made its Winter Olympics debut, the continent's first medal remains elusive. Can any of the eight in Milan-Cortina achieve medal success?

Even though the Olympics connect the global village, the Winter Games remain a distant dream for Africa, a continent where snow and ice are hard to find. Winter sports face high barriers from the start.