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.

There is no legal way to watch the Winter Olympics in South Africa, which leaves local fans no option but to do without, or engage in stream piracy.

South Africa has sent its largest team to the Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, since 1960. Team South Africa includes two teenagers, Thomas Weir (17) and Lara Marthaler (18), both of whom will compete in Alpine Skiing at the Winter Games which starts on Friday.

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

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,

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Cross-country skier Matthew Smith and skeleton athlete Nicole Burger will carry the South African flag at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

Winter Olympics Milan-Cortina dates, venues, events, athletes, sports, schedule and costs as Italy hosts the Winter Games across multiple cities.

The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) has announced Matthew Smith and Nicole Burger as the flagbearers for Team SA for the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics. Five South African athletes will take part in the nations parade along the Corso Italia pedestrian street in Cortina d’Ampezzo.

South Africa’s cross-country skier Matt Smith is capturing the hearts of the Italian public one social media post at a time. On top of representing his nation at the Winter Olympics, Smith hopes to use his platform to put South Africa on the map and grow the sport beyond the racecourse.

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, mark a historic moment for the Games. Not only because Italy is hosting for the first time since Torino 2006, but because these Olympics will be taking place in multiple locations, with venues scattered across the Italian Alps and Dolomites.