By BABATUNDE OGUNRINDE

Nigeria will participate in the Winter Olympic Games for the third consecutive time as the Milano-Cortina 2026 Games get underway in Italy.

Tony Nezianya, the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) disclosed this on Saturday in Lagos in a statement made available to newsmen.

According to Nezianya, Nigeria’s appearance at the Winter Olympics began in 2018 at the PyeongChang Games in South Korea, where the country made its debut.

Nigeria was represented at the Games in Bobsleigh by Seun Adigun and her two brakewomen, while Simidele Adeagbo competed in Skeleton.

The participation of the athletes attracted global attention and marked a new chapter in Nigeria’s sporting history.

The Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games are scheduled to hold from Feb. 6 to Feb. 22, in Italy.

At the ongoing Games, Samuel Ikpefan will be representing Nigeria in Cross-Country Skiing, having previously competed at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

Ikpefan, who is originally from Edo State, is based in France and trained in Switzerland ahead of the Games to ensure optimal preparation.

The athlete said he is better prepared than at his first Olympic outing in Beijing, attributing his improvement to experience gained from the 2022 Games.

Although realistic about his medal chances, Ikpefan expressed determination to give his best performance.

He is the sole Nigerian athlete competing at the Games.

Simidele Adeagbo, who competes in Monobob and Skeleton, failed to qualify after finishing 26th in the world rankings, as only athletes ranked 1–25 were approved by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation.

Kemi Obidahunsi, an official of the NOC accompanying Team Nigeria, confirmed that Ikpefan is the only Nigerian athlete qualified for the Games.

She added that only eight African athletes across various sports disciplines are participating at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.

The President of the NOC, Habu Ahmed Gumel, is leading the Nigerian delegation to the Games. (NAN)