The Winter Olympic Games is a major international multi-sport event held once every four years for sports practiced on snow and ice. The first Winter Olympic Games, the 1924 Winter Olympics, were held in Chamonix, France. The modern Olympic Games were inspired by the ancient Olympic Games, which were held in Olympia, Greece, from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. Baron Pierre de Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894, leading to the first modern Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece in 1896. The IOC is the governing body of the Olympic Movement, with the Olympic Charter defining its structure and authority.
North Korea competed as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, from 13 to 29 August 2004. This was the nation's seventh appearance at the Olympics since its debut in 1972. North Korean athletes did not attend the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, when they joined the Soviet boycott, and subsequently, led a boycott at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, along with six other nations.
Short track speed skating at the 2006 Winter Olympics was held over thirteen days, from 12 to 25 February. Eight events were contested at the Torino Palavela. In the men's competition, Ahn Hyun-soo earned a medal in each event, winning three golds. On the women's side, Jin Sun-yu scored three gold medals.
Athletes from the Netherlands competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. The team of 35 competed in speed skating, bobsleigh, short track speed skating and snowboarding. The Dutch flag bearer during the opening ceremony was speedskater Jan Bos.
The Czech Republic competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. Speed skater Martina Sáblíková served as flag bearer at the opening ceremonies. The medal hopes were set on ice hockey team, Jakub Janda in ski jumping, Kateřina Neumannová in cross-country skiing and on Sáblíková. As for hockey team, the bronze medal was less than most of Czech fans awaited before the olympic, and more than they hoped for after the group stage. But the strongest moment for Czech sport fans was unbelievable finish of Kateřina Neumannová in cross-country skiing, where she on the last meters of 30 km run got from the third to first position. It was her last Olympic start and it was finally a gold one, and the view of her little daughter running to her as the first to congratulate will be a lasting moment of Turin 2006.
Romania competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.
Lithuania competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. Lithuania is represented by the Lithuanian National Olympic Committee.
North Korea competed as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. At the opening ceremony, the athletes of both North and South Korea entered the stadium together behind the Korean Unification Flag.
Slovakia competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.
Short-track speed skating has been a contest at the Winter Olympics since the 1992 Winter Games in Albertville, France. Prior to that, it was a demonstration sport at the 1988 games. The results from the 1988 demonstration competition are not included in the official Olympic statistics. The sport has been dominated by teams from East Asia and North America, namely South Korea, China, Canada and the United States. Those four countries have won 147 of 195 medals awarded since 1992. South Korea leads the medal tally, with 53 medals including 26 golds since 1992. The majority of medals that South Korea and China have won at the Winter Olympics come from short-track speed skating.
The Republic of Korea first participated at the Olympic Games in 1948, and has sent athletes to compete in every Summer Olympic Games since then, except for 1980 which they boycotted. South Korea has also participated in every Winter Olympic Games since 1948, except for the 1952 games.
Russia competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, from 7 to 23 February 2014 as the host nation. As host, Russia participated in all 15 sports, with a team consisting of 232 athletes. It is Russia's largest Winter Olympics team to date.
South Korea competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia from 7 to 23 February 2014. The team consisted of 71 athletes and 49 officials. This marks an increase of 25 athletes from four years prior. Originally 64 athletes were named to the team but reallocations brought the final team size to 71 athletes.
South Korea competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, from 9 to 25 February 2018, as the host nation. It was represented by 122 competitors in all 15 disciplines.
The Netherlands competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia from 7 to 23 February 2014. The Dutch team was the largest Dutch delegation at a Winter Olympics, with 41 competitors that participated in bobsleigh, short track speed skating, snowboarding, and speed skating.
Italy competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, from 9 to 25 February 2018, with 120 competitors in 14 sports. They won ten medals in total, three gold, two silver and five bronze, ranking 12th in the medal table. Short-track speed skater Arianna Fontana, who was also the flag bearer at the opening ceremony, was the country's most successful athlete, having won three medals, one of each color.
The Netherlands competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, between 9 and 25 February 2018. Speed skater Jan Smeekens was appointed as flag bearer for the opening ceremony, which was attended by King Willem Alexander, Queen Máxima and Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who also observed the sporting events that featured Dutch competitors.
Australia competed at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, from 4 to 20 February 2022.
South Korea competed at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, from 4 to 20 February 2022.
Korea (2018)
