Portugal during World War II
Upon the start of World War II in 1939, the Portuguese Government announced on 1 September that the 600-year-old Anglo-Portuguese Alliance remained intact, but that since the British did not seek Portuguese assistance, Portugal was free to remain neutral in the war and would do so. In an aide-mémoire of 5 September 1939, the British Government confirmed the understanding. As Hitler's occupation swept across Europe, neutral Portugal became one of the Continent's last escape routes. Portugal managed to remain neutral throughout the war despite extraordinary pressures from both sides, notably over the strategically located Azores islands and over the wolfram (tungsten) trade.
Portugal at the 2010 Winter Olympics
Portugal debuted in Olympic competition at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, and have appeared in every Summer Olympics since. The nation made its first appearance in a Winter Olympic Games in 1952. Since then, their attendance has been sporadic, with the country making its second appearance in the 1988 Winter Games. They participated in 1994, 1998, and 2006, but skipped the 1992 and 2002 editions. The delegation sent by Portugal to Vancouver consisted of a single athlete, the cross-country skiing competitor Danny Silva. He was chosen as the flag bearer for both the opening ceremony and the closing ceremony.