The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVIII Olympic Winter Games and commonly known as Nagano 1998, were a winter multi-sport event held from 7 to 22 February 1998, mainly in Nagano, Nagano Prefecture, Japan, with some events taking place in the nearby mountain communities of Hakuba, Karuizawa, Nozawa Onsen, and Yamanouchi. The city of Nagano had previously been a candidate to host the 1940 Winter Olympics, as well as the 1972 Winter Olympics, but had been eliminated at the national level by Sapporo on both occasions.
Alpine Skiing at the 1998 Winter Olympics consisted of ten alpine skiing events. The speed events were held at Hakuba and the technical events at Shiga Kogen. There were a number of race postponements due to weather; the events began on 10 February and ended on 21 February.
Australia competed at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. A total number of 24 athletes competed, participating in alpine skiing, biathlon, bobsleigh, cross-country skiing, figure skating, freestyle skiing, short track speed skating, and snowboarding, which appeared for the first time at the Olympics. Freestyle skiers Kirstie Marshall and Jacqui Cooper were some of Australia's best gold medal hopes, but both missed the aerials finals. Zali Steggall won Australia's first individual Winter Olympics medal, gaining bronze in slalom.
Norway competed at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.
Switzerland competed at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.
Slovenia competed in the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. The country earned no medals.
Macedonia sent a delegation to compete at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from 12 to 28 February 2010. The Macedonian delegation consisted of three athletes, alpine skier Antonio Ristevski and two cross-country skiers, Rosana Kiroska and Darko Damjanovski. The nation's best finish was by Ristevski in the men's giant slalom, where he placed 53rd.
The women's 15-kilometre individual biathlon competition at the 2002 Winter Olympics was held on 11 February, at Soldier Hollow. Competitors raced over five loops of a 3.0-kilometre skiing course, shooting four times, twice prone and twice standing. Each miss resulted in one minute being added to a competitor's skiing time.
The Women's 7.5 kilometre sprint biathlon competition at the 2002 Winter Olympics was held on 13 February, at Soldier Hollow. Competitors raced over two 2.5 kilometre loops and one 3.0 kilometre loop of the skiing course, shooting two times, once prone and once standing. Each miss was penalized by requiring the competitor to race over a 150-metre penalty loop.
The Men's 20 kilometre individual biathlon competition at the 1998 Winter Olympics was held on 11 February, at Nozawa Onsen. Competitors raced over five loops of a 4.0 kilometre skiing course, shooting four times, twice prone and twice standing. Each miss resulted in one minute being added to a competitor's skiing time.
The Men's 10 kilometre sprint biathlon competition at the 1998 Winter Olympics was held on 18 February 1998, at Nozawa Onsen. Competitors raced over two 3.0 kilometre loops and one 4.0 kilometre loop of the skiing course, shooting two times, once prone and once standing. Each miss was penalized by requiring the competitor to race over a 150-metre penalty loop.
The Men's 4 x 7.5 kilometre biathlon relay competition at the 1998 Winter Olympics 21 February, at Nozawa Onsen. Each national team consisted of four members, with each skiing 7.5 kilometres and shooting twice, once prone and once standing.
The Women's 7.5 kilometre sprint biathlon competition at the 1998 Winter Olympics was held on 15 February, at Nozawa Onsen. Competitors raced over two 2.5 kilometre loops and one 3.0 kilometre loop of the skiing course, shooting two times, once prone and once standing. Each miss was penalized by requiring the competitor to race over a 150-metre penalty loop.
The Women's 4 x 7.5 kilometre biathlon relay competition at the 1998 Winter Olympics 19 February, at Nozawa Onsen. Each national team consisted of four members, with each skiing 7.5 kilometres and shooting twice, once prone and once standing.
The men's individual nordic combined competition for the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano at Hakuba Ski Jumping Stadium and Snow Harp on 13 and 14 February.
The men's 15 kilometre freestyle pursuit cross-country skiing competition at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, was held on 14 February at Snow Harp.
The men's 50 kilometre freestyle cross-country skiing competition at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, was held on 22 February at Snow Harp. The competitors started with a 30-second interval.
The women's 10 kilometre freestyle pursuit cross-country skiing competition at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, was held on 12 February at Snow Harp.
The women's 15 kilometre classical cross-country skiing competition at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, was held on 8 February at Snow Harp.
