Uzbekistan has competed independently at every Summer Olympics since the 1996 Summer Olympics in Athens, and in every Winter Olympic Games since the 1994 Lillehammer Games, as of the conclusion of the 2018 Winter Olympics. Uzbekistan began participating in the Summer Paralympics in the 2004 edition, but Sochi marked their first delegation sent to a Winter Paralympics. Ramil Gayazov was chosen as the Uzbekistani flag-bearer for the parade of nations during the opening ceremony, and for the closing ceremony.