Thailand first joined Olympic competition at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki and have participated in every Summer Olympics since, except the boycotted 1980 Summer Olympics. Their first appearance in the Winter Olympic Games came at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Thailand participated in 2006, but missed the 2010 Winter Olympics, making Sochi their third Winter Olympics participation. The only winter sport Thailand had previously competed in was cross-country skiing. The Thai team to Sochi consisted of two athletes, Vanessa Vanakorn and Kanes Sucharitakul, both competing in alpine skiing. Sucharitakul was selected as the flag bearer for both the opening ceremony and closing ceremony.