As the 2026 Winter Games get started, here are some of the ways Olympic athletes are stepping up to take climate action.

Over time, Black people have become more and more visible in sports they historically weren't celebrated in. Meet some of the faces!

South Africa are set to be the best-represented African country at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics (Feb. 6-22), with five athletes expected to participate among a total 13 from the continent.

"Being a flagbearer is a huge opportunity for me, a good opportunity to tell the story of the values the Olympics focus on. It's a good opportunity for me as a Kenyan and an African to hold the flag and represent people who value integrity and love sport in their hearts and minds," Kipchoge told Xinhua via video on Thursday.

Simader, Kenya’s trailblazer on snow, will compete in Alpine Skiing at her third Olympic Games, further cementing her status as the face of Kenyan winter sports. She made history at PyeongChang 2018 a

Two Kenyans, Sabrina Wanjiku Simader and Issa Laborde, will compete in Alpine Skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, marking Kenya's bold winter sports debut.

For Kipchoge, this moment signals a graceful transition from competitor to global sports statesman. After his final Olympic race at Paris 2024, the honour crowns a 20-year career and aligns with his current role as Male Athletes’ Representative at the National Olympic Committee of Kenya.

Follow along for live updates from the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games. Get the latest news, results, TV schedules and highlights from Italy.

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,

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.