Sport in East Timor

Sport in East Timor, although East Timor is a new country, already are part of the international scene.

International Sports Associations

East Timor has joined many international sport associations, including the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC board has granted full recognition to the East Timorese Olympic Committee (COTL). The IOC had allowed a mainly symbolic four-member team to take part in the 2000 Sydney Games under the Olympic flag as "Independent Olympic Athletes." [cite web
title =Summer Olympics 2000 East Timor's tiny team gets warm welcome
publisher = ESPN Internet Ventures
date =October 18, 2000
url =http://espn.go.com/oly/summer00/news/2000/1018/825268.html
accessdate = 2007-08-01 ] The Federaçao Timor-Leste de Atletismo had joined the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The Federaçao de Badminton de Timor-Leste had joined the International Badminton Federation (IBF) in April 2003. The East Timor Cycling Federation had joined the Union Cycliste Internationale. Confederacao do Desporto de Timor Leste also joined the International Weightlifting Federation. East Timor is also a full member of the International Table-Tennis Federation (ITTF).

In September 2005, East Timor joined FIFA

Participation in international events

East Timor had joined many sport events. In the 22nd SEA Games held in Vietnam in 2003, although the athletes came back with no medals, the athletes were happy to have the opportunity to perform and compete with the best athletes coming from South East Asia countries. The equipment of the athletes were lent to them by some nations in Southeast Asia like Malaysia. In the 2003 ASEAN Paralympics Games also held in Vietnam, a bronze was won. In the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, six athletes participated in three sports (athletics, weightlifting and boxing) and they won no medals. In the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games East Timor had their first Olympic team.

On East Timor's performance in the 22nd SEA Games in 2003, East Timor's karate coach Austo Aparicio said, "This was an opportunity for our athletes to gain experience. East Timor is still young, so it has lots of financial problems," He also commented on his team's karate performance, "We are fairly good at karate and we can make sure that we win a medal in that in the Philippines in 2005."

Other Sports

In 2008, for the 150th anniversary of Australian Rules Football, Australian soldiers in East Timor introduced AFL to the Timorese people. Rugby Union is also contested between Australian and New Zealander soldiers.

References