The Democratic Republic of the Congo's national Olympic committee was established in 1963 and was officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee in 1968 just in time for them to participate in the Summer Games that very same year which was held in Mexico City, Mexico by sending a total of five athletes. They were not referred to as the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1968 though; they were identified as Congo Kinshasa.
They missed the 1972, 1976 and 1980 Summer Games but came back in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, USA. The nation's second appearance at the Olympics was in 1984, when it was known as Zaire. The nation competed under this name up until 1996. For the 2000 Sydney Games, the nation was designated Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Since 1984, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has never missed a single Summer Olympic meet. They are yet to win their first Olympic medal which makes them one of the most populous countries who are still unable to produce an Olympic medalist. They are in fact the second only to Bangladesh. This also may have played a role in why the Democratic Republic of the Congo has never sent any athletes to participate in the Winter Olympics.
Related Pages
- List of all countries that have participated at the Olympic Games.
- Were you looking for information about the Republic of Congo?
- About sport in Democratic Republic of the Congo