Olympic Games - Basic Facts

Did you know...

The Olympic Games ( winter & summer) are organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The headquarters is in Lausanne (Switzerland).The mission of the International Olympic Committee is to promote the Olympic movement in the world.

Singapore -one of the Asia's poorest countries in the 1940s- will host the 1st Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2010. It beat a rival bid from the Russian capital city of Moscow. Singapore is one of the smallest countries in the world.

Tuvalu is an Olympic country since 2007.

The IOC has more member states than the United Nations. basketball territories are not members.The following territories are not members of the IOC: Anguilla, Falkland Islands, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gibraltar, Greenland, Guadeloupe, Macao, Martinique, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Northern Marinas, Turks & Caicos, Northern Cyprus, Faroe Islands, Reunion, Western Sahara, Norfolk and Nieu.

The I Summer Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896. Athletes from host-country won 46 Olympic medals.

Jacques Rogge is currently president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). He was born in Belgium. This great Olympic leader once said: "The challenge of our Olympic Movement is to make the education of youth through sport as relevant today as it was when Pierre de Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee on this principle over 100 years ago. All of us who work under the Olympic rings have the social responsability to demonstrate by our example that sport teaches us how to respect ourselves and one another, how to strive for excellence in all that we do and, perhaps above all else, the importance of friendship and peace..."

The German Democratic Republic (or East Germany) was an Olympic country from 1960 to 1988.

The 2014 Winter Olympics will be hosted by Sochi (Russian Federation). The Moscow government has approved an unprecedented US$ 12 billion for the development of the Games.

The IOC has 205 member states and territories:

1.Afghanistan (Asia / Arab country) / the most popular Olympic sports: wrestling, soccer, hockey field, taekwondo

2.Albania (Europe)/ the most popular Olympic sports: table tennis, athletics, wrestling, shooting

3.Algeria: (Africa/ Arab country) / the most popular Olympic sports : volleyball, athletics, handball, swimming, soccer, boxing, taekwondo, weightlifting, judo

4.American Samoa (Oceania/ American territory) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, swimming, wrestling, weightlifting

5.Andorra (Europe) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, shooting, archery, soccer

6.Angola ( Africa/ ex Portuguese colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: basketball, handball, soccer, athletics, swimming

7.Antigua & Barbuda ( Caribbean / ex British colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, boxing, sailing,

8.Argentina ( South America) / the most popular Olympic sports: soccer, volleyball, basketball, boxing, athletics, sailing, swimming, field hockey, table tennis, tennis, cycling, equestrian, judo, taekwondo, beach volleyball

9.Armenia (Europe/ former Soviet republic) / the most popular Olympic sports: gymnastics, wrestling, weightlifting, athletics, basketball, judo, modern pentathlon

10.Aruba ( Caribbean/ Dutch territory) / the most popular Olympic sports: sailing, athletics, judo, swimming, basketball, softball

11.Australia (Oceania) / the most popular Olympic sports: swimming, soccer, basketball, athletics, diving, rowing, shooting, water polo, hockey field, equestrian, badminton, softball , triathlon, tennis, kayak, beach volleyball

12.Austria ( Central Europe) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, sailing, kayak, tennis, table tennis, weightlifting, soccer, equestrian, judo, archery, hockey field, swimming

13.Azerbaijan ( Asia/ former Soviet republic) / the most popular Olympic sports: volleyball, wrestling, judo, weightlifting, athletics

14.Bahamas ( Caribbean/ ex British colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, sailing, tennis, softball, swimming, volleyball, basketball

15.Bahrain ( Gulf Persian) / the most popular Olympic sports: soccer, handball, athletics, volleyball, taekwondo, swimming

16.Bangladesh ( Asia/ formerly East Pakistan) / the most popular Olympic sports: wrestling, athletics, soccer, taekwondo, shooting, tennis

17.Barbados (Caribbean/ ex British colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, swimming, sailing, softball, soccer, volleyball, shooting

18.Belarus (Europe/ former Soviet republic) / the most popular Olympic sports: gymnastics, fencing, soccer, volleyball, athletics, weightlifting, swimming, diving, judo, kayak

19.Belgium ( Europe) / the most popular Olympic sports: sailing, soccer, fencing, field hockey, tennis, swimming, shooting, equestrian, athletics

20.Belize (Central America/ former British Honduras) / the most popular Olympic sports: softball (national sport), athletics, shooting, taekwondo

21.Benin (Western basketball / formerly Dahomey) / the most popular Olympic sports: boxing, soccer, judo, wrestling, taekwondo, track & field

22.Bermuda (Caribbean /British territory) / the most popular Olympic sports: sailing, boxing, equestrian, soccer, track & field

23.Bhutan (Asia/ Indian Subcontinent) / the most popular Olympic sports: archery (national sport) , soccer, shooting

24.Bolivia ( South America) / the most popular Olympic sports: soccer, athletics, cycling, tennis, boxing, equestrian, shooting

25.Bosnia & Herzegovina (Europe/ formerly Yugoslav republic) / the most popular Olympic sports : basketball, soccer , athletics, shooting, table tennis, canoeing

26.Botswana ( Southern Africa/ ex British colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: softball, athletics, boxing, volleyball

27.Brazil ( South America) / the most popular Olympic sports: soccer (national sport) , volleyball, basketball, beach volleyball, judo, sailing, equestrian, swimming, tennis, water polo, taekwondo, rowing, athletics, table tennis, gymnastics

28.British Virgin Islands (Caribbean / British territory) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, swimming, sailing, taekwondo

29.Brunei Darussalam (Southeast Asia/ ex British colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: soccer (national sport) , shooting, track and field

30.Bulgaria (East Europe) / the most popular Olympic sports: weightlifting (national sport), wrestling, soccer, basketball, volleyball, kayak, water polo, tennis, rowing, fencing, swimming

31.Burkina Faso ( Western Africa /formerly Upper Volta/ ex French colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: soccer (national sport) , boxing, judo, track & field

32.Burundi ( Central Africa/ ex French colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics (national sport) , boxing

33.Cambodia (Southeast Asia / formerly Kampuchea, Republic of Khmer/ ex French colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: soccer, volleyball, table tennis, athletics, swimming

34.Cameroon ( Western Africa/ ex French colony)/ the most popular Olympic sports: soccer (national sport) , volleyball, athletics, judo, boxing

35.Canada (North America)/ the most popular Olympic sports: kayak, equestrian, judo, basketball, soccer, diving, baseball, rowing, boxing, athletics, badminton, tennis, synchronized swimming

36.Cape Verde (Western Africa/ ex Portuguese colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, soccer

37.Cayman Islands (Caribbean/ British territory) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, sailing, taekwondo, basketball

38.Central African Republic ( Africa/ ex French colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: soccer, athletics, judo, boxing, basketball

39.Chad ( Central Africa/ ex French colony) /the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, soccer (national sport)

40.Chile (South America) / the most popular Olympic sports: soccer, tennis, athletics, shooting, boxing, swimming, basketball, equestrian, taekwondo, modern pentathlon, field hockey

41.China (the People's Republic of China) / the most popular Olympic sports: table tennis (national sport) , athletics, volleyball, gymnastics, judo, diving, synchronized swimming, softball, weightlifting, badminton, basketball, soccer, fencing

42.Chinese Taipei (Asia/ also known as Taiwan) /the most popular Olympic sports: taekwondo, table tennis, athletics, weightlifting, basketball, volleyball, baseball (national sport)

43.Colombia (South America) / the most popular Olympic sports: soccer, baseball, weightlifting, athletics, water polo, softball, basketball, swimming, shooting, wrestling, cycling, boxing

44.Comoros (Africa / ex French colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, soccer

45.Congo ( Africa / formerly Zaire / ex French colony ) / the most popular Olympic sports: basketball, soccer(national sport) , boxing, athletics, judo

46.Congo Republic ( Central Africa/ ex French colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: handball (national sport) , athletics, judo, soccer

47.Cook Islands (Oceania) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, swimming, softball

48.Costa Rica (Central America) / the most popular Olympic sports: soccer, swimming, cycling, tennis, athletics, kayak, baseball, shooting, volleyball, taekwondo

49.Cote d'Ivoire ( Western Africa /ex French colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: handball, soccer (national sport) , athletics, taekwondo

50.Croatia (Europe/ formerly Yugoslav republic) / the most popular Olympic sports: soccer, basketball, volleyball, handball, gymnastics, table tennis, tennis, swimming, kayak

51.Cuba (Caribbean) / the most popular Olympic sports: baseball (national sport) , volleyball, athletics, boxing, taekwondo, diving, shooting

52.Cyprus (Asia) / the most popular Olympic sports: the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, tennis, shooting, soccer

53.Czech Republic (Europe/ formerly Czechoslovakia) / the most popular Olympic sports: gymnastics, athletics, tennis (national sport) , table tennis, kayak, wrestling, weightlifting, soccer, volleyball, basketball, softball

54.Denmark (Europe) / the most popular Olympic sports: soccer, sailing, athletics, handball, badminton

55.Djibouti ( East Africa/ ex French colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics (national sport) , soccer

56.Dominica (Caribbean/ ex British colony) /the most popular Olympic sports: athletics (national sport)

57.Dominican Republic (Latin America) / the most popular Olympic sports: baseball (national sport), athletics, table tennis, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, boxing, tennis, judo

58.Ecuador (Latin America) / the most popular Olympic sports: soccer, athletics, boxing, wrestling, weightlifting, shooting, tennis, swimming, cycling, taekwondo

59.Egypt ( North Africa) / the most popular Olympic sports: weightlifting, soccer, volleyball, field hockey, taekwondo, athletics, diving, boxing, shooting, swimming, handball, water polo

60.El Salvador (Latin America) / the most popular Olympic sports: soccer (national sport) , cycling, athletics, shooting, basketball, archery, weightlifting

61.Equatorial Guinea ( Western Africa/ ex Spanish colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, soccer

62.Eritrea ( East Africa / ex Ethiopian territory) / the most popular Olympic sports: football, athletics (national sport) , boxing

63.Estonia (Europe/ former Soviet republic) / the most popular Olympic sports: wrestling, weightlifting, rowing, sailing, athletics, boxing, fencing, cycling, kayak, gymnastics, basketball

64.Ethiopia ( East Africa) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics (national sport) , judo, boxing, soccer

65.Fiji (Oceania / ex British colony ) / the most popular Olympic sports: sailing, athletics, soccer, taekwondo, basketball, softball

66.Finland (Europe) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, soccer, kayak, shooting

67.France (Europe) / the most popular Olympic sports: soccer (national sport), athletics, judo, modern pentathlon, rowing, basketball, volleyball, shooting, table tennis, tennis, triathlon, archery, equestrian, sailing, taekwondo, beach volleyball

68.Gabon ( Westrern Africa/ ex French colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: football, judo, track & field

69.Gambia ( Western Africa/ ex British colony ) / the most popular Olympic sports: soccer, athletics

70.Georgia (Europe/ former Soviet republic) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, judo, weightlifting, wrestling, judo, modern pentathlon, gymnastics, kayak

71.Germany (Europe/ formely East Germany and West Germany) / the most popular Olympic sports: soccer (national sport), athletics, fencing, judo, kayak, field hockey, equestrian, modern pentathlon, tennis, handball, volleyball, basketball, shooting, water polo, swimming, shooting

72.Ghana ( Western Africa/ ex British colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: football, athletics, boxing, wrestling

73.Greece (Europe/ birthplace of the Olympic Games) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, synchronized swimming, water polo, weighlifting, wrestling, volleyball, basketball, sailing

74.Grenada (Caribbean/ ex British colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, soccer, boxing

75.Guam (Oceania/ American territory) / the most popular Olympic sports: swimming, softball, athletics

76.Guatemala (Latin America) / the most popular Olympic sports: soccer, shooting, weightlifting, gymnastics, swimming, equestrian, athletics, rowing, wrestling, baseball, softball

77.Guinea ( Western Africa / ex French colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: soccer, judo, wrestling, athletics, boxing

78.Guinea-Bissau ( Western Africa / the most popular Olympic sports: ex Portuguese colony) / athletics, soccer, boxing

79.Guyana (South America/ ex British colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, field hockey, judo cycling, boxing, basketball, table tennis

80.Haiti (Caribbean) / the most popular Olympic sports: shooting, athletics, judo, football (national sport), volleyball, basketball, boxing, tennis, weightlifting

81.Honduras (Latin America) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, swimming, judo, baseball, soccer

82.Hong Kong (Asia) / the most popular Olympic sports: sailing, athletics, kayak, cycling, judo, table tennis (national sport), badminton, field hockey, swimming,equestrian, rowing, volleyball, basketball, taekwondo

83.Hungary ( Central Europe) / the most popular Olympic sports: boxing, athletics, judo, weightlifting, wrestling, kayak, football, sailing, basketball, volleyball, handball, fencing, rowing, shooting, water polo, gymnastics, table tennis, modern pentathlon, equestrian

84.Iceland ( North Europe) / the most popular Olympic sports: judo, soccer, badminton, athletics, handball (national sport)

85.India (Asia/ Indian Subcontinent) / the most popular Olympic sports: field hockey, weightlifting, table tennis, tennis, archery, athletics, badminton, wrestling, soccer, boxing, basketball

86.Indonesia (Southeast Asia ) / the most popular Olympic sports: badminton (national sport), weightlifting, wrestling, table tennis, tennis, boxing, volleyball, track & field

87.Iran (Middle East- /formerly Persia) / the most popular Olympic sports: weightlifting, wrestling, water polo, athletics, soccer, volleyball, boxing, judo, shooting

88.Iraq (Middle East- Asia) / the most popular Olympic sports: soccer, weightlifting, wrestling, volleyball

89.Ireland (Europe) / the most popular Olympic sports: swimming, shooting, field hockey, athletics, rowing, judo, soccer, badminton, boxing

90.Israel (Middle East- Asia) / the most popular Olympic sports: basketball, judo ,sailing, swimming, athletics, wrestling, fencing

91.Italy (Europe) / the most popular Olympic sports: swimming, water polo, volleyball, basketball, football, athletics, judo, rowing, fencing, tennis, cycling, diving, beach volleyball

92.Jamaica (Caribbean/ ex British colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics (national sport), basketball, badminton, taekwondo, swimming, cycling, table tennis, boxing, weightlifting, badminton, field hockey

93.Japan (Asia) / the most popular Olympic sports: judo, volleyball, taekwondo, swimming, diving, gymnastics, basketball, baseball, soccer, table tennis, athletics

94.Jordan (Middle East- Asia) / the most popular Olympic sports: taekwondo, table tennis, athletics

95.Kazakhstan (Asia/ former Soviet republic) / the most popular Olympic sports: kayak, volleyball, water polo, diving, wrestling, archery, cycling, weightlifting, athletics, swimming

96.Kenya (East Africa / ex British colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics (national sport), field hockey, boxing, water polo, volleyball, basketball, boxing, shooting

97.Kiribati (Oceania) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, weightlifting

98.Korea, North (Asia) / the most popular Olympic sports: volleyball, soccer, basketball, diving, weightlifting, wrestling, table tennis, gymnastics, boxing, shooting, archery, judo, athletics

99.Korea, South (Asia) / the most popular Olympic sports: baseball, cycling, swimming, field hockey, handball, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, taekwondo (national sport), table tennis, basketball, tennis, shooting, judo, athletics, boxing, archery, softball, fencing, badminton, soccer

100.Kuwait (Middle East- Asia) / shooting, taekwondo, handball, volleyball, water polo, equestrian, soccer

101.Kyrgyzstan (Asia/ former Soviet republic) / the most popular Olympic sports: boxing, athletics, judo, weightlifting, wrestling, kayak, basketball, volleyball, fencing, rowing, shooting, water polo, gymnastics, equestrian

102.Laos (Asia / ex French colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: boxing, athletics

103.Latvia (Europe/ former Soviet republic) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, judo, weightlifting, wrestling, kayak, sailing, basketball, volleyball,fencing, rowing, shooting, water polo, gymnastics, modern pentathlon, equestrian

104.Lebanon (Middle East- Asia) / the most popular Olympic sports: weightlifting, wrestling, athletics, shooting, basketball

105.Lesotho (Southern Africa / ex British colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, boxing

106.Liberia ( Western Africa) / the most popular Olympic sports: soccer, athletics, boxing

107.Libya ( North Africa) / the most popular Olympic sports: soccer, volleyball, athletics, weightlifting, wrestling

108.Liechtenstein (Europe) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, rowing, fencing, shooting, sailing, equestrian

109.Lithuania (Europe/ former Soviet republic) / the most popular Olympic sports: boxing, athletics, judo, weightlifting, wrestling, kayak, sailing, basketball, volleyball, handball, fencing, rowing, shooting, gymnastics, table tennis, modern pentathlon, equestrian

110.Luxembourg (Europe) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, soccer, fencing, shooting, rowing, equestrian

111.Macedonia (Europe/ formerly Yugoslav republic) / the most popular Olympic sports: basketball, volleyball, rowing, table tennis, athletics, weightlifting, wrestling

112.Madagascar (Africa/ ex French colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, judo, basketball

113.Malawi (Africa/ ex British colony ) / the most popular Olympic sports: soccer, athletics, boxing

114.Malaysia (Asia / ex British colony ) / the most popular Olympic sports: swimming, judo taekwondo, badminton, table tennis, athletics, volleyball, basketball, weightlifting, wrestling, soccer

115.Maldives (Indian Subcontinent / ex British colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: swimming, athletics

116.Mali (Africa/ ex French colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, soccer, boxing, wrestling

117.Malta (Europe) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, soccer, fencing, swimming

118.Marshall Islands (Oceania) / the most popular Olympic sports: sailing, athletics, weightlifting, wrestling

119.Mauritania (Africa) / the most popular Olympic sports: wrestling, athletics

120.Mauritius (Africa/ ex French colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, swimming, volleyball, sailing, taekwondo

121.Mexico (Latin America) / the most popular Olympic sports: diving (national sport), athletics, rowing, gymnastics, basketball, volleyball, equestrian, cycling, boxing, diving, modern pentathlon, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting, wrestling, kayak, water polo, softball, triathlon, beach volleyball

122.Micronesia (Oceania) / the most popular Olympic sports: swimming, weightlifting, wrestling, athletics

123.Moldova (Europe/ former Soviet republic) / the most popular Olympic sports: shooting, weightlifting, judo, wrestling, kayak, athletics, rowing

124.Monaco (Europe) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, swimming, shooting

125.Mongolia ( Central Asia) / the most popular Olympic sports: weightlifting, judo, wrestling, volleyball, athletics, boxing, shooting

126.Montenegro (Europe/ formerly Yugoslav republic) / the most popular Olympic sports: basketball, shooting, volleyball, water polo, athletics, boxing

127.Morocco ( North Africa) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, soccer, boxing, taekwondo, swimming, basketball, weightlifting, wrestling, tennis , judo

128.Mozambique (Africa / ex Portuguese colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, swimming, boxing

129.Myanmar (Southeast Asia / formerly Burma / ex British colony ) / the most popular Olympic sports: weightlifting, wrestling, athletics, soccer

130.Namibia ( Southern Africa / ex South African territory) / the most popular Olympic sports: shooting, athletics, boxing, swimming

131.Nauru (Oceania) / the most popular Olympic sports: , weightlifting, athletics, softball

132.Nepal (Indian Subcontinent) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, weightlifting, wrestling, table tennis

133.Netherlands (Europe) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, rowing, gymnastics, basketball, volleyball, equestrian, cycling, boxing, diving, modern pentathlon, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting, wrestling, kayak, water polo, softball, triathlon, beach volleyball

134.Neterherlands Antilles (Caribbean) / the most popular Olympic sports: sailing, athletics, softball, baseball

135.New Zealand (Oceania/ ex British colony ) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, rowing, basketballl, equestrian, cycling, boxing, diving, modern pentathlon, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting, wrestling, kayak, water polo, softball, triathlon, beach volleyball

136.Nicaragua (Latin America) / the most popular Olympic sports: baseball (national sport, athletics, table tennis

137.Niger (Africa/ex French colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: weightlifting, athletics, boxing

138.Nigeria ( Western Africa / ex British colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, boxing, swimming, basketball, soccer, handball

139.Norway (Europe) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, judo, modern pentathlon, rowing, shooting, table tennis, tennis, triathlon, archery, equestrian, sailing, beach volleyball

140.Oman (Middle East- Asia) / the most popular Olympic sports: shooting, athletics, soccer

141.Pakistan (Indian Subcontinent / ex British colony ) / the most popular Olympic sports: field hockey, wrestling, weightlifting, athletics

142.Palau (Oceania) / the most popular Olympic sports: wrestling, weightlifting, swimming, athletics, softball

143.Palestine (Middle East- Asia) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, swimming, shooting, boxing, table tennis

144.Panama (Latin America) / the most popular Olympic sports: baseball (national sport), athletics, basketball, boxing, weightlifting, wrestling, softball

145.Papua New Guinea (Oceania) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, swimming, , boxing, weightlifting, wrestling, softball

146.Paraguay (Latin America) / the most popular Olympic sports: tennis, soccer, shooting, athletics, basketball

147.Peru (Latin America) / the most popular Olympic sports: shooting, volleyball, basketball, athletics, boxing, judo, soccer, taekwondo

148.Philippines (Asia) / the most popular Olympic sports: , boxing, weightlifting, wrestling, softball, athletics, basketball, taekwondo, shooting

149.Poland (Europe) / the most popular Olympic sports: archery, swimming, boxing, athletics, judo, weightlifting, wrestling, kayak, football, sailing, basketball, volleyball, fencing, rowing, shooting, modern pentathlon, equestrian, triathlon

150.Portugal (Europe) / the most popular Olympic sports: swimming, boxing, athletics, judo, weightlifting, wrestling, football, sailing, basketball, volleyball, handball, fencing, rowing, shooting

151.Puerto Rico (Latin America/Caribbean) / the most popular Olympic sports: baseball, taekwondo, : tennis, archery, swimming, boxing, athletics, judo, weightlifting, wrestling, kayak, sailing, basketball, volleyball, fencing, shooting, water polo, gymnastics, table tennis, modern pentathlon, equestrian, triathlon

152.Qatar (Middle East- Asia/ Arab country) / the most popular Olympic sports: tennis, swimming, boxing, athletics, weightlifting, wrestling, football, sailing, basketball, volleyball, handball, fencing, rowing, shooting, water polo, table tennis, equestrian, triathlon

153.Romania (Europe) / the most popular Olympic sports: tennis, swimming, boxing, athletics, judo, weightlifting, wrestling, kayak, football, sailing, volleyball, handball, fencing, rowing, shooting, water polo, gymnastics, table tennis, modern pentathlon

154.Russia (Europe/ former Soviet republic) / the most popular Olympic sports: tennis,archery, swimming, boxing, athletics, judo, weightlifting, wrestling, kayak, football, sailing, basketball, volleyball, handball, fencing, rowing, shooting, water polo, gymnastics, table tennis, modern pentathlon, equestrian, triathlon, diving

155.Rwanda ( Central Africa/ ex French colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, soccer

156.St.Kitts & Nevis (Caribbean/ ex British colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, sailing

157.St.Lucia (Caribbean/ ex British colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, sailing, boxing

158.St.Vincent & the Grenadines (Caribbean/ ex British colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, soccer

159.Samoa (oceania / formerly Western Samoa) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, soccer

160.San Marino (Europe) / the most popular Olympic sports: shooting, gymnastics, athletics

161.Sao Tome & Principe ( Western Africa / ex Portuguese colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, soccer

162.Saudi Arabia (Middle East- Asia) / the most popular Olympic sports: equestrian, shooting, volleyball, athletics, soccer

163.Senegal (Western Africa/ ex French colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: judo, athletics, soccer, basketball, boxing, wrestling, weightlifting

164.Serbia (Europe/ formerly Yugoslav republic) / the most popular Olympic sports: boxing, athletics, judo, weightlifting, wrestling, kayak, football, sailing, basketball, volleyball, handball, fencing, rowing, shooting, water polo, gymnastics, table tennis

165.Seychelles ( East Africa) / the most popular Olympic sports: swimming, boxing, athletics, sailing

166.Sierra Leone (Western Africa / ex British colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, soccer

167.Singapore (Southeast Asia / ex British colony ) / the most popular Olympic sports: badminton (national sport), athletics, gymnastics, basketball, volleyball, equestrian, cycling, boxing, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting, wrestling, water polo, softball

168.Slovakia (Europe/ formerly Czechoslovakia) / the most popular Olympic sports: basketball, swimming, boxing, athletics, judo, weightlifting, wrestling, kayak, football, sailing, volleyball, handball, fencing, rowing, shooting, water polo, gymnastics

169.Slovenia (Europe/ formerly Yugoslav republic) / the most popular Olympic sports: boxing, athletics, judo, weightlifting, wrestling, kayak, football, sailing, basketball, volleyball, handball, fencing, rowing, shooting, water polo, gymnastics, table tennis

170.Solomon Islands (Oceania / ex British colony ) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, boxing, weightlifting, wrestling

171.Somalia (Africa) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, basketball, boxing

172.South Africa (Africa) / the most popular Olympic sports: softball, tennis, archery, swimming, boxing, athletics, judo, weightlifting, wrestling, kayak, football, sailing, fencing, rowing, shooting, water polo, gymnastics, table tennis, modern pentathlon, equestrian, triathlon

173.Spain (Europe) / the most popular Olympic sports: taekwondo, tennis, swimming, boxing, athletics, judo, weightlifting, wrestling, football, sailing, basketball, volleyball, handball, fencing, rowing, shooting, water polo, gymnastics

174.Sri Lanka (Indian Subcontinent / ex British colony ) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, judo, weightlifting, shooting, badminton, wrestling, table tennis, sailing, boxing

175.Sudan (Africa) / the most popular Olympic sports: soccer, athletics, boxing

176.Suriname ( South America / ex Dutch colony ) / the most popular Olympic sports: badminton, swimming, athletics, football

177.Swaziland ( Southern Africa / ex British colony ) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, boxing

178.Sweden (Europe) / the most popular Olympic sports: tennis, swimming, boxing, athletics, judo,wrestling, kayak, football, volleyball, handball, fencing, rowing, shooting, water polo, gymnastics, table tennis, modern pentathlon

179.Switzerland (Europe) / the most popular Olympic sports: archery, swimming, athletics, judo, weightlifting, wrestling, kayak, football, sailing, handball, fencing, rowing, shooting, gymnastics, table tennis, modern pentathlon, equestrian, tennis

180.Syria (Middle East- Asia) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, boxing, weightlifting, taekwondo wrestling, swimming

181.Tajikistan ( Central Asia/ former Soviet republic) / the most popular Olympic sports: weightlifting, taekwondo, athletics, boxing, gymnastics, shooting, wrestling

182.Tanzania (East Africa / ex British colony) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, field hockey, boxing

183.Thailand (Southeast Asia / formerly Siam) / the most popular Olympic sports: fencing, swimming, judo taekwondo, badminton, table tennis, athletics, volleyball, boxing, weightlifting, wrestling, soccer

184.Timor-Leste (Asia / ex Indonesian territory) / the most popular Olympic sports: boxing,athletics, weightlifting, taekwondo, wrestling

185.Togo (Western Africa / ex French colony ) / the most popular Olympic sports: soccer, athletics, cycling, judo, basketball, boxing

186.Tonga (Oceania / ex British colony ) / the most popular Olympic sports:boxing, weightlifting, wrestling, athletics

187.Trinidad & Tobago (Caribbean/ ex British colony) / the most popular Olympic sports:athletics (national sport), swimming, weightlifting, cycling, volleyball, badminton, field hockey, soccer, badminton, table tennis, sailing

188.Tunisia (Africa / Arab country) / the most popular Olympic sports:athletics, soccer, handball, volleyball, basketball, swimming, weightlifting, wrestling

189.Turkey (Asia) / the most popular Olympic sports:soccer, volleyball ,basketball, weightlifting, wrestling, boxing, taekwondo, athletics, swimming, judo, shooting, archery

190.Turkmenistan (Central Asia/ former Soviet republic) / the most popular Olympic sports:athletics, judo, weightlifting, wrestling, shooting, taekwondo, soccer, gymnastics, archery

191.Tuvalu (Oceania /formerly Ellice Islands/ ex British colony ) / the most popular Olympic sports:athletics, swimming, boxing, weightlifting, wrestling

192.Uganda ( Central Africa / ex British colony) / the most popular Olympic sports:athletics (national sport), boxing, soccer, field hockey ,taekwondo, table tennis

193.Ukraine (Europe/ former Soviet republic) /the most popular Olympic sports:gymnastics,weightlifting, wrestling, kayak , rowing, judo, volleyball, water polo, equestrian, shooting, sailing

194.United Arab Emirates (Persian Gulf) / the most popular Olympic sports:shooting, taekwondo, handball, soccer

195.United Kingdom (Europe) / the most popular Olympic sports:athletics, boxing, rowing, football, softball, triathlon, kayak, archery, badminton, field hockey, swimming, equestrian, sailing, tennis

196.United States (North America) / the most popular Olympic sports:baseball (national sport), athletics, rowing, gymnastics, basketball, volleyball, equestrian, cycling, boxing, diving, modern pentathlon, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting, wrestling, kayak, water polo, softball, triathlon, beach volleyball

197.United States Virgin Islands (Caribbean) / the most popular Olympic sports: athletics, taekwondo, sailing (national sport), shooting, swimming, softball

198.Uruguay (South America) / the most popular Olympic sports:athletics, rowing, basketball, cycling, soccer, tennis, boxing, swimming, volleyball, sailing, field hockey

199.Uzbekistan (Asia/ former Soviet republic) / the most popular Olympic sports:weightlifting, wrestling, kayak, volleyball, handball, athletics, judo, swimming

200.Vanuatu (Oceania / ex British-French colony / formerly New Hebrides ) / the most popular Olympic sports:boxing, athletics

201.Venezuela (South America) / the most popular Olympic sports:baseball, swimming, athletics, boxing, judo, weightlifting, wrestling, basketball, volleyball, soccer, synchronized swimming, diving, tennis, taekwondo, softball, fencing

202.Vietnam (Asia / ex French colony) / the most popular Olympic sports:taekwondo, weightlifting, wrestling, athletics, swimming, table tennis, cycling

203.Yemen (Asia/ Arab country/ ) / the most popular Olympic sports:soccer, athletics, boxing, wrestling

204.Zambia (Africa / ex British colony) / the most popular Olympic sports:soccer, boxing, athletics

205.Zimbabwe (Africa/ formerly Rhodesia/ ex British colony ) / the most popular Olympic sports:swimming (national sport), diving, triathlon, soccer, field hockey, athletics, tennis, sailing, boxing

Alejandro Guevara Onofre: He is a freelance writer. Alejandro is of Italian, African and Peruvian ancestry. He has published more than seventy-five research paper in English, and more than twenty in Spanish, concerning the world issues, olympic sports, countries, and tourism. His next essay is called "The Dictator and Alicia Alonso". He is an expert on foreign affairs. Alejandro is the first author who has published a world-book encyclopedia in Latin America.

He admires Frida Kahlo (Mexican painter), Jos Gamarra (former president of the Bolivian Olympic Committee, 1970- 1982), Hillary Clinton (ex-First Lady of the USA), and Jimmy Carter (former President of the USA). Alejandro said: "The person who I admire the most is Jos Gamarra. He devoted his professional and personal life to sport. Jos played an important role in the promotion of Olympism in Bolivia -it is one of the Third World`s poorest countries- and Latin America. His biography is interesting". The sportspeople he most admire is Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman. "This African-American sportswoman is my idol..."