South Africa at the 2026 Winter Olympics

South Africa will compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, from 6 to 22 February 2026. If the country participates, it will be its first participation in the Winter Olympics since 2018.

Watch it live on youtube.com/watch?v=zbGANkaRvJI&fbclid=IwY2xjawP5IfdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeFEBb8Ox1iNc4PuYTrC9NFfBXXo4MQJ-oj3YzK9NCm2_rK55rR6IOq2VLurc_aem_LSBXe2AVMcZIXm2_mGd8ow

Competitors

The following is the list of number of competitors participating at the Games per sport/discipline.

Sport	Men	Women	Total
Alpine skiing	1	1	2
Cross-country skiing	1	0	1
Freestyle skiing	0	1	1
Skeleton	0	1	1
Total	2	3	5

TEAM SA SQUAD FOR 2026 WINTER OLYMPICS

Men: Thomas Weir (slalom & giant slalom), Matthew Smith (cross-country)

Women: Lara Markthaler (slalom & giant slalom), Malica Malherbe (freestyle skiing), Nicole Burger (skeleton)

Coaches: Robert Weir (slalom & giant slalom), Christian Markthaler (slalom & giant slalom), Ole Ensrud (cross-country), Rhys Thornbury (skeleton)

Alpine skiing

Main articles: Alpine skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics and Alpine skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics – Qualification

South Africa qualified one female and one male alpine skier through the basic quota.^[2][3]

Athlete	Event	Run 1		Run 2		Total
		Time	Rank	Time	Rank	Time	Rank
Thomas Weir	Men's giant slalom
	Men's slalom
Lara Markthaler	Women's giant slalom
	Women's slalom

Cross-country skiing

Main articles: Cross-country skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics and Cross-country skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics – Qualification

South Africa qualified one male cross-country skier through the basic quota.^[4] 34-year-old Matt Smith qualified to represent the country in the sport.^[5] Smith had only taken up the sport two years ago after moving from South Africa to Norway.^[6] This will mark the country's first participation in the sport in 16 years, after last competing at the 2010 Winter Olympics.^[7]

Athlete	Event	Final
		Time	Deficit	Rank
Matthew Smith	Men's 10 km freestyle

Freestyle skiing

Main articles: Freestyle skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics and Freestyle skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics – Qualification

South Africa qualified a female athlete in moguls and dual moguls through the World Cup and 2025 World Championship event.^[8]

Moguls

Athlete	Event	Qualification								Final
		Run 1				Run 2				Run 1				Run 2			Rank
		Time	Points	Total	Rank	Time	Points	Total	Rank	Time	Points	Total	Rank	Time	Points	Total
Malica Malherbe	Women's moguls	30.39	43.58	55.85	25	30.05	46.19	58.86	17	Did not advance

Dual moguls

Athlete	Event	Seeding				Quarterfinal	Semifinal	Final
		Time	Score	Total	Rank	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Rank
Malica Malherbe	Women's dual moguls

Skeleton

Main articles: Skeleton at the 2026 Winter Olympics and Skeleton at the 2026 Winter Olympics – Qualification

South Africa qualified a single female skeleton racer, securing one quota spot based on the IBSF Ranking List for the 2025–26 season.^[9]

Athlete	Event	Run 1		Run 2		Run 3		Run 4		Total
		Time	Rank	Time	Rank	Time	Rank	Time	Rank	Time	Rank
Nicole Burger	Women's

References

1.  Lemke, Gary (4 February 2026). "Smith, Burger to carry flag at opening ceremony". TeamSA. South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
2.  "Alpine Skiing quotas list for Olympic Winter Games 2026". International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS). Retrieved 28 December 2025.
3.  Isaacson, David (16 March 2025). "Rising ski star Lara wants to put South Africa on winter sport map". Sunday Times. Johannesburg, South Africa: Arena Holdings. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
4.  "Cross-Country quotas list for Olympic Winter Games 2026". International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS). Retrieved 28 December 2025.
5.  "South African skier qualifies for 2026 Winter Olympics". www.dailyfriend.co.za/. Johannesburg, South Africa: Daily Friend. 5 April 2025. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
6.  "How South Africa's 'Snowbok' booked Winter Olympics spot". BBC News. London, England. 1 April 2025. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
7.  "Matt Smith becomes South Africa's first winter Olympian in years". Africa News. 18 November 2025. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
8.  "Freestyle Moguls & Dual Moguls quotas list for Olympic Winter Games 2026". International Ski Federation (FIS). Retrieved 1 February 2026.
9.  "Quota Allocation – Women's Bobsleigh". International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF). January 2026. Retrieved 27 January 2026.

PCU FIFA23 TOURNAMENT - FOR ALL STUDENTS WORLDWIDE.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) has just been advised of a FIFA23 Tournament (on PS5 only) organised for students worldwide, representing their university or institute of higher education.

Timing: Friday 21 April 2023 from 19h00 to 23h00 CEST. Participation in the PCU E-Sports Games is simple, by filling in the form below. After your registration is confirmed, you will receive the link to the online platform. The deadline for registration is 20 April 2023.

All participants receive a participation certificate.

The rules and regulations can be found here.

Results will be available during competition

FIFA23 tournament (played on PS5) which will take place online on Friday 21 April 2023 from 19:00 to 23:00 CEST (this week!). Participation is open to all students worldwide and free of charge. Registration is possible until 20 April! 

For more information and registration, please visit our website www.pcucommittee.com/pcugames.

• 4th PCU FIFA Tournament
• What: free online FIFA23 tournament (on PS5 only)
• When: Friday 21 April 2023 (19-23h CEST)
• Registrations: PCU Committee website until 20 April.
• For who: all students worldwide.

Additional reading:

• 2023 Calendar of Events
• Affiliation: Private Clubs
• Affiliation - School
• Events: 5th Provincial Online Student Championships - 6 May 2023
• GEF - The Road to Riyadh
• IESF: IESF has announced the slots for 15th World Championships to be held  in Lasi, Romania.
• IESF: Titles entered
• IESF: National Team Trials - 25 March 2023
• Phygital Gaming: Kazan to host Phygital Games
• National Team Trials: Counter-Strike: GO - 25 March 2023
• National Team Trials: DotA 2 - 25 March 2023
• National Team Trials: eFootball - 25 March 2023
• National Team Trials: Mobile Legends Bang Bang - 25 March 2023
• Results: 2023 Northern Cape Online Championships
• Results: 2023 Western Cape Online Championships held on 25 February 2023.
• Results: 12th Online Inter-school Provincial Championships - 4 March 2023
• Results: 2023 Gauteng Online Championships held on 11 March 2023.
• Results: 13th Online Championships held on 15 April 2023.
• Selection: Calling all female esports athletes.
• Selection: Passports are required.
• Titles - esports: Premier Championships
• Titles - esports: Student Championships
• Umpire Course - 18 February 2023

International Day of Sport for Development and Peace - 6 April.

The birth of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.

In 2013, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed April 6 as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, thus establishing a historic link with the opening date of the first Olympic Games in 1896. Since 2014, this day is celebrated every year.

The IOC, as a permanent observer to the United Nations, supports this initiative because it knows that this day is a way to recognize the mission and action of sports organizations in the context of social change and human development. More specifically, it is an opportunity for the IOC to highlight how athletes and the Olympic Movement use sport to encourage peace, reconciliation and development, underlining the Games' ability to promote tolerance and solidarity between participants, fans and people around the world.

Read the full text of the UN resolution.

Sport, a universal tool at the service of development.

In 2015, a historic event for the Olympic and Sports Movement, the United Nations' final document on the Sustainable Development Goals officially mentions sport as an "important partner" in sustainable development. In this context, the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace is an ideal platform for advocating with governments for increased investment in sport, related infrastructure and education. quality physics for young people.

Using sport to encourage development and peace has been one of the main missions of the IOC since its creation in 1894. Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the IOC, was very explicit about his wish to make Olympism a forum to promote harmony between individuals and countries. It is therefore particularly appropriate that this International Day highlights the positive role of sport and physical education at all levels, whether it is occasional practice or competitive sport.

It is also an opportunity to show how the IOC, National Olympic Committees (NOCs), International (IF) and national sports federations, sports clubs, governmental and non-governmental organizations, neighborhood associations, other entities and volunteers put sport at the service of humanity.

Nigerian Esports Federation meets Thomas Bach of IOC.

Nigerian eSports Federation President, Mr Agbor Clinton (left) about to shake hands with Thomas Bach (IOC).

All competitive esports athletes concerned with having esports accredited as a sport hope that esports will soon be admitted in to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).  The International Olympic Committee IOC President Mr Thomas Bach while in Nigeria chatted with the President of Nigeria eSports Federation, Mr Agbor Clinton, in Abuja, Nigeria on this very subject.

IOC President, Mr. Thomas Bach,  was on a two day visit to Abuja, Nigeria, where he was heard to express some of his views on eSports  and speculated on possible inclusion of esports being incorporated  in to the IOC by his successor.

Nigerian eSports Federation presenting a banner

 According to Agbor Clinton, the IOC President stated that he was not certain when esports might be incorporated into the Olympic Games, but was confident that it will one day after he is out of office.

Correspondent, Adeline Shuri, who was at the MKO Abiola national Stadium,also reported that Nigerian eSports Federation also presented a banner welcoming the IOC President with the inscription, "Nigeria eSports Federation Welcomes Mr IOC President, the number one sports Icon in the world to Nigeria, a great sport nation",

The delighted IOC supremo then presented an Olympic souvenir to the president of Nigerian eSports Federation, Mr Agbor Clinton, as a symbol of friendship. Mr Agbor Clinton, the president of the Nigerian eSports  Federation described the gesture and  informal conversation as being fruitful  in nature and being of long-term interest for the development of esports in Nigeria and in the world at large.

Mr Agbor Clinton is extremely confident that one day the IOC will open its doors to the esports fraternity, is of the opinion that the journey has already began for that actuality.

Nigerian eSports Federation has put in place many activities that will drive support for esports , and now holds inter state, college and zonal qualification tournaments. Nigerian eSports Federation is also attempting to establish esports centres in major cities in Nigeria.

Through the efforts of Nigerian eSports Federation esports competitions have been widely accepted by both parents and students due to the fact that the top three winners from schools will have their  tuition fees paid for.

Nigerian eSports Federation has a data base of over three million active esports players with the majority of them being students.