2018 Winter Olympics will feature most African countries in history

The 2018 Winter Olympics, which kick off Feb. 9 in Pyeongchang, South Korea, will feature a record-breaking eight African countries, according to Quartz.

Why it matters: The absence of wintery conditions has played an obvious role in the fact that only 13 African countries — 15 with this year's addition of Eritrea and Nigeria — have ever participated in the Winter Games. The 13 athletes set to compete this year each have a chance to become the first African to ever win a Winter Olympics medal.