Madagascar is represented at the 2022 Winter Olympics by Mialitiana Clerc, 20, Mathieu Neumuller, 18. Hosted by Beijing, China, the international winter multisport event will be held from February 4-20, 2022.

On February 4, 2022, the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics was held at Beijing National Stadium in Beijing. The final seven torchbearers mounted the torch itself into the center of a stylized snowflake that was constructed from placards bearing the names of the delegations competing in the event.

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During the event’s opening ceremony, Clerc and Neumuller served as Madagascar’s flagbearers. They will both compete in alpine skiing.

Born in Ambohitrimanjaka, Madagascar, Clerc was adopted by a French family in 2002. She is the first female athlete to represent Madagascar in the Winter Olympics.

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Clerc learned to ski in France. In 2018, she finished 47th in women’s slalom and 48th in women’s giant slalom in the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, Gangwon, South Korea.

In 2020, Neumuller finished 51st in men’s giant slalom in a Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS) event in La Plagne-Tarentaise, France. In June 2021, the FIS approved his change of nation from France to Madagascar.

In July 2015, Beijing was elected as the host city of the 2022 Winter Olympics at the 128th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This marks the first time the Winter Olympics is held in China.

Including Clerc and Neumuller, a total of 2,871 athletes from 91 countries and territories will compete in 109 events in seven sports. The events will be held not only in Beijing but also in other parts of China including Yanqing and Chongli.