Venezuela joined Olympic competition at the 1948 Summer Olympics and has participated in every Summer Olympic Games since then. They first participated in the Winter Olympic Games in 1998 in Nagano, and were making their third Winter Olympic appearance here in Turin. The Venezuelan delegation to Turin consisted of one luger, Werner Hoeger. Luge was the only sport that Venezuela had ever entered athletes into in their Winter Olympics history. Hoegar was the flag bearer for the opening ceremony and the closing ceremony.