The article sheds light on the unique situation of African athletes competing in the Winter Olympics, where skiing is not a common sport. It notes that most of these competitors do not train in their home countries, with many born under different flags. Notably, Morocco has developed skiing tracks and even a national championship, challenging the notion that skiing is an exotic sport in Africa.

It highlights athletes such as Mialitiana Clerka from Madagascar, who is the first African woman to compete in three Winter Olympics, and Matthew Smith from South Africa, who took up skiing at the age of 32. The piece also mentions Sabrina Simadera, a Kenyan slalom skier known as the "Snow Leopard," who had to withdraw from the competition, underscoring the challenges faced by athletes in this less-frequented arena of sports.

The participating countries include Kenya, Benin, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, and Eritrea with one athlete each, while Madagascar and Morocco send two athletes. South Africa boasts a larger delegation of five competitors, indicating a gradual increase from six athletes representing Africa in the previous Olympics. Overall, the article emphasizes the growing involvement of African nations in winter sports, despite the many obstacles they encounter.