As the 2026 Winter Games get started, here are some of the ways Olympic athletes are stepping up to take climate action.

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,

Black athletes from around the world are competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, with Team USA, Canada, Jamaica, Nigeria, Benin, Madagascar, Eritrea and Kenya all represented in various sports and disciplines.

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

Skier Issa Laborde is ready to make his Olympic debut for Kenya after his compatriot Sabrina Simader pulled out of her own races due to financial constraints.

Two Kenyans, Sabrina Wanjiku Simader and Issa Laborde, will compete in Alpine Skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, marking Kenya's bold winter sports debut.

"Being a flagbearer is a huge opportunity for me, a good opportunity to tell the story of the values the Olympics focus on. It's a good opportunity for me as a Kenyan and an African to hold the flag and represent people who value integrity and love sport in their hearts and minds," Kipchoge told Xinhua via video on Thursday.