The article from RFI Afrique explores the stark contrast in Africa's visibility on the global stage, particularly in the realm of winter sports as exemplified by the ongoing Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. It notes that while Africa has a significant cultural impact in areas such as music, it remains largely absent from athletic participation in winter sports, primarily due to unsuitable climatic conditions and a lack of infrastructure necessary for training athletes in these disciplines.

According to the piece, only 15 athletes from Africa are participating in the Winter Olympics, out of nearly 2,900 total competitors. This amounts to a mere 0.5% representation, highlighting the continent's marginal presence in these games. The countries fielding athletes include South Africa, Morocco, Benin, Eritrea, and Nigeria, showcasing a small but notable effort to engage in winter sports, despite the overwhelming challenges.

The article invites readers to consider not only the present limitations faced by African nations in winter sports but also the broader implications for the continent's visibility in global sporting events. The composition of the African contingent in the Winter Olympics prompts a discussion about the investments needed to build sports infrastructure and promote winter sports across a continent that is often overshadowed in this domain, despite its rich cultural contributions overall.