- List of IOC country codes
-
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) uses three-letter abbreviation country codes to refer to each group of athletes that participate in the Olympic Games. Each code usually identifies a National Olympic Committee, but there are several codes that have been used for other instances in past Games, such as teams composed of athletes from multiple nations, or groups of athletes not formally representing any nation.
Several of the IOC codes are different from the standard ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 codes. Other sporting organisations, such as FIFA, FIBA or the Commonwealth Games Federation, use similar country codes to refer to their respective teams.
Contents
History
The 1956 Winter Olympics and 1960 Summer Olympics were the first Games to feature Initials of Nations to refer to each NOC in the published official reports.[1] However, the codes used at the next few Games were often based on the host nation's language (e.g., GIA for Japan at the 1956 Winter Olympics and 1960 Summer Olympics, both held in Italy, from Italian Giappone) or based on the French name for the nation (e.g., COR for Korea, from Corée). By the 1972 Winter Olympics, most codes were standardized on the current usage, but several have changed in recent years. Additionally, the dissolution of the Soviet Union, breakup of Yugoslavia, dissolution of Czechoslovakia, German reunification, and several instances of geographical renaming have all resulted in code changes.
In addition to this list of over 200 NOCs, the participation of National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) at the Paralympic Games requires standardised IOC codes. Recent examples of these include Macau and the Faroe Islands, coded MAC and FRO respectively.[2]
Current NOCs
There are 204 current NOCs (National Olympic Committees) within the Olympic Movement. The following tables show the currently used code for each NOC and any different codes used in past Games, per the official reports from those Games. Some of the past code usage is further explained in the following sections. Codes used specifically for a Summer Games only or a Winter Games only, within the same year, are indicated by "S" and "W" respectively.
Contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V Y Z A
Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used AFG [1] Afghanistan
ALB [2] Albania
ALG [3] Algeria
AGR (1964), AGL (1968 S) AND [4] Andorra
ANG [5] Angola
ANT [6] Antigua and Barbuda
ARG [7] Argentina
ARM [8] Armenia
ARU [9] Aruba
ASA [10] American Samoa
AUS [11] Australia
AUT (1956 W) AUT [12] Austria
AUS (1956 W) AZE [13] Azerbaijan
B
Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used BAH [14] Bahamas
BAN [15] Bangladesh
BAR [16] Barbados
BAD (1964) BDI [17] Burundi
BEL [18] Belgium
BEN [19] Benin
DAY (1964), DAH (1968–1976) BER [20] Bermuda
BHU [21] Bhutan
BIH [22] Bosnia and Herzegovina
BSH (1992 S) BIZ [23] Belize
HBR (1968–1972) BLR [24] Belarus
BOL [25] Bolivia
BOT [26] Botswana
BRA [27] Brazil
BRN [28] Bahrain
BRU [29] Brunei
BUL [30] Bulgaria
BUR [31] Burkina Faso
VOL (1972–1984) C
Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used CAF [32] Central African Republic
AFC (1968) CAM [33] Cambodia
CAB (1964), KHM (1972–1976) CAN [34] Canada
CAY [35] Cayman Islands
CGO [36] Congo
CHA [37] Chad
CHD (1964) CHI [38] Chile
CIL (1956 W, 1960 S) CHN [39] China
CIV [40] Côte d'Ivoire
IVC (1964), CML (1968) CMR [41] Cameroon
COD [42] DR Congo
COK (1968), ZAI (1972–1996) COK [43] Cook Islands
COL [44] Colombia
COM [45] Comoros
CPV [46] Cape Verde
CRC [47] Costa Rica
COS (1964), CTC (1984 W) CRO [48] Croatia
CUB [49] Cuba
CYP [50] Cyprus
CZE [51] Czech Republic
D
Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used DEN [52] Denmark
DAN (1960 S, 1968 W), DIN (1968 S) DJI [53] Djibouti
DMA [54] Dominica
DOM [55] Dominican Republic
E
Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used ECU [56] Ecuador
EGY [57] Egypt
RAU (1960, 1968), UAR (1964) ERI [58] Eritrea
ESA [59] El Salvador
SAL (1964–1976) ESP [60] Spain
SPA (1956–1964, 1968 W) EST [61] Estonia
ETH [62] Ethiopia
ETI (1960, 1968) F
Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used FIJ [63] Fiji
FIG (1960) FIN [64] Finland
FRA [65] France
FSM [66] Micronesia
G
Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used GAB [67] Gabon
GAM [68] Gambia
GBR [69] Great Britain
GRB (1956 W–1960), GBI (1964) GBS [70] Guinea-Bissau
GEO [71] Georgia
GEQ [72] Equatorial Guinea
GER [73] Germany
ALL (1968 W), ALE (1968 S), FRG (1980–1988) GHA [74] Ghana
GRE [75] Greece
GRN [76] Grenada
GUA [77] Guatemala
GUT (1964) GUI [78] Guinea
GUM [79] Guam
GUY [80] Guyana
GUA (1960), GUI (1964) H
Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used HAI [81] Haiti
HKG [82] Hong Kong
HOK (1960–1968) HON [83] Honduras
HUN [84] Hungary
UNG (1956 W, 1960 S) I
Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used INA [85] Indonesia
INS (1960) IND [86] India
IRI [87] Iran
IRN (1956–1988), IRA (1968 W) IRL [88] Ireland
IRQ [89] Iraq
IRK (1960, 1968) ISL [90] Iceland
ICE (1960 W, 1964 S) ISR [91] Israel
ISV [92] Virgin Islands
ITA [93] Italy
IVB [94] British Virgin Islands
J
Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used JAM [95] Jamaica
JOR [96] Jordan
JPN [97] Japan
GIA (1956 W, 1960 S), JAP (1960 W) K
Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used KAZ [98] Kazakhstan
KEN [99] Kenya
KGZ [100] Kyrgyzstan
KIR [101] Kiribati
KOR [102] South Korea
COR (1956 W, 1960 S, 1968 S, 1972 S) KSA [103] Saudi Arabia
ARS (1968–1976), SAU (1980–1984) KUW [104] Kuwait
L
Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used LAO [105] Laos
LAT [106] Latvia
LBA [107] Libya
LYA (1964), LBY (1968 W) LBR [108] Liberia
LCA [109] Saint Lucia
LES [110] Lesotho
LIB [111] Lebanon
LEB (1960 W, 1964 S) LIE [112] Liechtenstein
LIC (1956 W, 1964 S, 1968 W) LTU [113] Lithuania
LIT (1992 W) LUX [114] Luxembourg
M
Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used MAD [115] Madagascar
MAG (1964) MAR [116] Morocco
MRC (1964) MAS [117] Malaysia
MAL (1964–1988) MAW [118] Malawi
MDA [119] Moldova
MLD (1994) MDV [120] Maldives
MEX [121] Mexico
MGL [122] Mongolia
MON (1968 W) MHL [123] Marshall Islands
MKD [124] Macedonia
MLI [125] Mali
MLT [126] Malta
MAT (1960–1964) MNE [127] Montenegro
MON [128] Monaco
MOZ [129] Mozambique
MRI [130] Mauritius
MTN [131] Mauritania
MYA [132] Myanmar
BIR (1960, 1968–1988), BUR (1964) N
Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used NAM [133] Namibia
NCA [134] Nicaragua
NCG (1964), NIC (1968) NED [135] Netherlands
OLA (1956 W), NET (1960 W), PBA (1960 S), NLD (1964 S), HOL (1968–1988) NEP [136] Nepal
NGR [137] Nigeria
NGA (1964) NIG [138] Niger
NGR (1964) NOR [139] Norway
NRU [140] Nauru
NZL [141] New Zealand
NZE (1960, 1968 W) O
Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used OMA [142] Oman
P
Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used PAK [143] Pakistan
PAN [144] Panama
PAR [145] Paraguay
PER [146] Peru
PHI [147] Philippines
FIL (1960, 1968) PLE [148] Palestine
PLW [149] Palau
PNG [150] Papua New Guinea
NGY (1976–1980), NGU (1984–1988) POL [151] Poland
POR [152] Portugal
PRK [153] North Korea
NKO (1964 S, 1968 W), CDN (1968) PUR [154] Puerto Rico
PRI (1960), PRO (1968) Q
Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used QAT [155] Qatar
R
Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used ROU [156] Romania
ROM (1956–1960, 1972–2006), RUM (1964–1968) RSA [157] South Africa
SAF (1960–1972) RUS [158] Russia
RWA [159] Rwanda
S
Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used SAM [160] Samoa
SEN [161] Senegal
SGL (1964) SEY [162] Seychelles
SIN [163] Singapore
SKN [164] Saint Kitts and Nevis
SLE [165] Sierra Leone
SLA (1968) SLO [166] Slovenia
SMR [167] San Marino
SMA (1960–1964) SOL [168] Solomon Islands
SOM [169] Somalia
SRB [170] Serbia
SRI [171] Sri Lanka
CEY (1960–1972) STP [172] São Tomé and Príncipe
SUD [173] Sudan
SUI [174] Switzerland
SVI (1956 W, 1960 S), SWI (1960 W, 1964 S) SUR [175] Suriname
SVK [176] Slovakia
SWE [177] Sweden
SVE (1956 W, 1960 S), SUE (1968 S) SWZ [178] Swaziland
SYR [179] Syria
RAU (1960), SIR (1968) T
Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used TAN [180] Tanzania
TGA [181] Tonga
TON (1984) THA [182] Thailand
TAI (1960, 1968) TJK [183] Tajikistan
TKM [184] Turkmenistan
TLS [185] Timor-Leste
TOG [186] Togo
TPE [187] Chinese Taipei[3]
RCF (1960), TWN (1964–1968), ROC (1972–1976) TRI [188] Trinidad and Tobago
TRT (1964–1968) TUN [189] Tunisia
TUR [190] Turkey
TUV [191] Tuvalu
U
Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used UAE [192] United Arab Emirates
UGA [193] Uganda
UKR [194] Ukraine
URU [195] Uruguay
URG (1968) USA [196] United States
SUA (1960 S), EUA (1968 S) UZB [197] Uzbekistan
V
Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used VAN [198] Vanuatu
VEN [199] Venezuela
VIE [200] Vietnam
VET (1964), VNM (1968–1976) VIN [201] Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Y
Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used YEM [202] Yemen
Z
Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used ZAM [203] Zambia
NRH (1964) ZIM [204] Zimbabwe
RHO (1960–1972) Historic NOCs and teams
Codes still in use
Twelve historical NOCs or teams have codes that are still used in the IOC results database[4] to refer to past medal winners from these teams.
Code Nation/Team Other codes used AHO Netherlands Antilles
ANZ Australasia
BOH Bohemia
BWI British West Indies
ANT (1960, 1968), WID (1964) EUA Unified Team of Germany
GER (1956–1964) EUN Unified Team
FRG West Germany
ALL (1968 W), ALE (1968 S), GER (1972–1976) GDR East Germany
ADE (1968) SCG Serbia and Montenegro
YUG (1996 S-2002 W) TCH Czechoslovakia
CSL (1956 W), CZE (1960 W), CSV (1960 S), CZS (1964 S), CHE (1968 S) URS Soviet Union
SOV (1968 W) YUG Yugoslavia
JUG (1956–1960, 1968 W), YUS (1964 S) ZZX Mixed teams
Obsolete codes
Code Nation (NOC) Years Notes BIR Burma
1948–1988 Now Myanmar (MYA)
CEY Ceylon
1948–1972 Now Sri Lanka (SRI)
DAH Dahomey
1964–1976 Now Benin (BEN)
HBR British Honduras
1968–1972 Now Belize (BIZ)
KHM Khmer Republic
1972–1976 Now Cambodia (CAM)
MAL Malaya
1956–1960 Competed independently prior to the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
NowMalaysia (MAS)
— North Borneo
1956 NRH Northern Rhodesia
1964 Now Zambia (ZAM)
RAU United Arab Republic
1960 Now Egypt (EGY)
andSyria (SYR)
RHO Rhodesia
1960–1972 Now Zimbabwe (ZIM)
ROC Republic of China
1932–1976 Now competing under the name ' Chinese Taipei (TPE)'
UAR United Arab Republic
1964 Now Egypt (EGY)
VOL Upper Volta
1972–1984 Now Burkina Faso (BUR)
YAR North Yemen
1984–1988 Competed independently prior to Yemenite unification in 1990.
NowYemen (YEM)
YMD South Yemen
1988 ZAI Zaire
1972–1996 Now DR Congo (COD)
— British Guiana
1948–1964 Now Guyana (GUY)
— Gold Coast
1952 Now Ghana (GHA)
— Saar
1952 Competed independently prior to rejoining West Germany in 1957. Two other significant code changes have occurred, both because of a change in the nation's designation as used by the IOC:
- HOL was changed to NED for the Netherlands for the 1992 Games, reflecting the change in designation from Holland.
- IRN was changed to IRI for Iran for the 1992 Games, reflecting the change in designation to Islamic Republic of Iran.
Special codes
- ANZ is now used in the IOC's medal database[4] to identify the team from Australasia, composed of athletes from both Australia and New Zealand for the 1908 and 1912 Games. By 1920, both nations competed separately.
- EUA is now used in the IOC's medal database[4] to identify the Unified Team of Germany, composed of athletes representing the NOCs of both East Germany and West Germany for the 1956–1964 Games. At the time, the team was simply known as Germany in the official reports for those six Games.
- EUN was used in 1992 (both Summer and Winter Games) for the Unified Team, composed of athletes from most of the ex-republics of the Soviet Union. Only the Baltic states were able to compete as independent teams in 1992; the other twelve new nations competed independently for the first time in 1994 and/or 1996.
- IOP was used for Independent Olympic Participants in 1992, a designation used for athletes from Yugoslavia who could not compete as a team due to United Nations sanctions.
- IOA was used for Individual Olympic Athletes in 2000, a designation used for athletes from Timor-Leste prior to the formation of its NOC.
- IOC was used as the country code for Athletes from Kuwait at the 2010 Asian Games, as the Kuwait Olympic Committee was suspended.
- ZZX is used to identify medals won by mixed teams of athletes from multiple nations (such as the combination of France and Great Britain, for example), a situation that happened several times in the Games of 1896, 1900, and 1904.
See also
- Comparison of IOC, FIFA, and ISO 3166 country codes
- List of FIFA country codes
- Lists of National Olympic Committees by continental association:
- Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa
- European Olympic Committees
- Oceania National Olympic Committees
- Olympic Council of Asia
- Pan American Sports Organization
- List of participating nations at the Summer Olympic Games
- List of participating nations at the Winter Olympic Games
References
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- ^ Faroe IslandsMacau, China
- ^ Official name given to the Republic of China for Olympic competition
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Olympic Games Summer Games Winter Games 1 Discounted ex post facto by the IOC. 2 Cancelled due to World War I. 3 Cancelled due to World War II.Categories:- Country codes
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