Sweden is a constitutional monarchy on the Scandinavian Peninsula in northern Europe. It is bordered by Norway to the west, the Baltic Sea to the south, and Finland to the east. The Swedes have lived in present-day Sweden for at least 5,000 years, longer than nearly any other European people. Sweden maintained armed neutrality during both world wars and has not participated in any war in almost two centuries.

Sweden ranks eighth all-time on the medals list with 117 medals, including 14 in Torino. Fifty-six of those medals have come in cross-country skiing. Sweden won an additional eight figure skating medals in 1908 and 1920, when figure skating was part of the Summer Games. Sweden has never hosted the Olympic Winter Games.

Sweden will have strong medal contenders in many sports, including Alpine skiing, women's curling, cross-country skiing, and men's and women's hockey.