The sport’s global governing body confirmed that an application from the Federation of Winter Sports of Portugal had been approved.

It came after the other FIL members unanimously approved the bid during the organistion’s Congress in Constanta, Romania.

The first luger to represent Portugal on the circuit will be 36-year-old Hugo Daniel Martins Alves.

He did take part in the World Cup event at the Alpenisa Sliding Centre, which will be hosting competition in the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics.

However, Alves was injured during a training run and was not able to participate in the event.

Portugal first appeared at the Winter Olympics at the 1952 Games staged in Norway’s capital Oslo.

Since then, they have featured at six more Games, including the last three editions.

The country has never won a medal at the Games.

At Sochi 2014, they were represented by Alpine skiers Arthur Hanse and Camille Dias.

Hanse failed to finish either the men’s slalom or giant slalom.

Dias came 40^th in the women’s slalom and 59^th in the giant slalom.