VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- The man known as the Snow Leopard of Alpine skiing will be Ghana's flagbearer at the Olympic opening ceremony on Friday.

Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong (en-KRO'-ma ah-CHAM'-pong) is the first athlete from the west African nation ever to qualify for the Winter Games. He's a one-man team, and says he can't wait for the games to start and finally compete after "such a long journey."

The 35-year-old taught himself to ski just six years ago while working at an indoor snow center in England.

He is set to race in the men's giant slalom scheduled Feb. 21 at Whistler and the slalom on Feb. 27.