The 2026 Winter Olympics
There is something about watching the Olympics that makes it special. Maybe it is the different types of sport that does not usually feature over the weekend. That cannot be truer about the Winter Olympics events that are mostly unknown to South Africans. The start of the next Winter Olympics 2026 is around the corner with 2900 athletes from over 90 countries making their way to Italy to attend the opening ceremony on the 6th of February.
The events will take place across Nothern Italy, with Cortina d’ Ampezzo and Milan serving as the main host cities. Importantly, every athlete in the SA squad will be making their Winter Olympics debut in 2026 for Team South Africa. However, the team is not without big-event experience. Lara Marthaler previously represented the country at the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympics, giving her valuable exposure at international Olympic-level competition.
Venues used for the Milano Cortina 2026
- The newly built Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena will be hosting the men’s and women’s ice hockey matches.
- Figure skating events will be held in the same city at the Milano Ice Skating Arena.
- Women’s alpine skiing, curling, bobsleigh and skeleton will all be taking place at venues around the town of Cortina d’Ampezzo.
- The town of Bormio will be hosting the men’s alpine skiing.
- The slopes of Livigno which has perfect conditions will be hosting snowboarding and freestyle skiing events.
- All of the Biathlon competitions will take place at Antholz.
- The impressive skills of ski jumpers will be tested at Predazzo & Tesero. This will also be the venue for cross‑country skiing.
The last time that South Africa sent a delegation to the games was in 2018 when Connor Wilson the only one in the team at the Pyeongchang games. We did not send any athletes to the last Winter Olympics which took place in Beijing in 2022.
South African sports fans will be pleased to know that Team South Africa is sending its biggest delegation yet to the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. At the time of writing, five athletes are confirmed to represent Mzansi on the world’s biggest winter sports stage, thus marking an exciting step forward for local winter disciplines.
Earlier speculation suggested that Skeleton specialist Nicole Burger could strengthen the squad, and that has now been confirmed. With the team locked in, let’s take a closer look at the South African Winter Olympics 2026 lineup.
South Africans competing at the Winter Olympics
The squad includes two teenage athletes who headline the future of South African winter sport. Thomas Weir (17) and Lara Marthaler (18) will both compete in Alpine skiing, showcasing raw talent and international exposure well beyond their years. Lara, in particular, will contest the Slalom and Giant Slalom events and has earned the nickname “the pink tornado”, thanks to her distinctive pink hair and fearless racing style. Although South African by representation, she grew up in Canada, where she honed her Alpine skiing skills.
The team also features Malica Malherbe (21) in Freestyle skiing, adding further variety to the delegation, while Nicole Burger (31) carries the national flag in Skeleton, one of the most physically demanding winter sports on the Olympic programme.
Rounding out the squad is Matthew Smith (35), affectionately known as “Snowbok”, who will compete in Cross-Country skiing. He has also gone from 0 to Olympian in 3 years! Remarkable! It has also been over a decade since South Africa last had a representative in this discipline. Smith has spent much of his preparation time training in Norway, thus ensuring he is fully acclimatised to elite winter conditions ahead of the Games.
Leading the delegation is Alex Heath, appointed as Chef de Mission. A three-time Winter Olympian himself, Heath brings invaluable leadership and insight, having represented South Africa at the 1998 Winter Olympics, 2002 Winter Olympics, and 2006 Winter Olympics. His experience will be crucial in guiding this youthful, first-time squad through the pressures of Olympic competition.
Together, this diverse and determined group reflects the steady growth of winter sport in South Africa. And therefore gives local fans plenty to cheer for when the action begins in Milano Cortina.
Events for 2026
A total of 16 types of sports will make up the combined 116 events taking place at the Winter Olympics 2026. Furthermore, Skimo or Ski mountaineering is the only new kid on the block at this year’s games. Here are the sports includes in the Winter Olympics:
- Curling.
- Skeleton.
- Luge.
- Snowboarding.
- Alpine skiing.
- Freestyle skiing.
- Ski jumping.
- Speed skating.
- Nordic combined.
- Short track speed skating.
- Ice hockey.
- Figure skating.
- Bobsleigh.
- Biathlon.
- Cross country skiing.
- Ski mountaineering.
The Closing Ceremony
The ancient Roman amphitheatre Arena di Verona will provide the perfect backdrop for the closing ceremony on the 22nd of February. A total of 116 medals are also up for grabs in the Olympics. No South African has ever managed to reach a spot on the podium and that’s why our bet will be on the South Africans competing in the Winter Games. Furthermore, our preferred betting partners offer odds on the all the different events taking place at the Winter Olympics in February.
Winter Olympics Betting Sites
It is so exciting that we have a team participating in the Winter Olympics and therefore we should be supportimg them, watch it on SuperSport and follow them proudly. Players have ample choice to pick and choose where their betting needs lie. Explore sites such as 10bet, Mzansibet and below:
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There is quite a lot happening in the sports calendar in February, the Formula 1 starts, we welcome the Men’s 6 Nations and the HSBC 7s continue. Never mind the plenty of football still on the go or the build up to the FIFA World Cup later this year. For sports fans there is plenty of entertainment to choose from. Have a look at our January 2026 Sports Preview to see how the year has started.
