Nagano 1998
The Olympic Games, this time the Winter Games, returned to Japan after 26 years. The city of Nagano was chosen to host the 18th games, in which no less than 72 countries participated.
2,176 athletes, including 787 female athletes, competed in 7 different winter sports.
For the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, a women’s ice hockey tournament was also held.
Three athletes represented Israel in the games.
Michael Shmerkin (Men), who appeared for the second time in his career at the artistic skating games, was joined in Nagano by his artistic skating friends Galit Chait and Sergei Sakhnovski (Pairs).