The 1998 Winter Olympics were held in Nagano, Japan from February 7 to February 22. This event marked the first time that the Winter Games featured snowboarding and women's ice hockey, expanding the range of sports included in the competition. A total of 72 nations participated, showcasing over 2,000 athletes. The games featured 68 events across 7 sports, with Norway leading the medal count, winning a total of 26 medals, including 10 golds. The United States also performed well, particularly in snowboarding and ice hockey, where they secured a gold medal in women's competition.