List of IOC country codes

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) uses three letter acronym 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 organizations, such as FIFA or the Commonwealth Games Federation, use similar country codes to refer to their respective teams.

[edit] 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, from Giappone in Italian) 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.

[edit] Current NOCs

There are 205 current NOCs within the Olympic Movement. The following tables show the currently used code for each NOC and different codes used in past Games (if any), 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

[edit] A

Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used
AFG [1] Afghanistan Afghanistan
AHO [2] Netherlands Antilles Netherlands Antilles ATO (1960), NAN (1964)
ALB [3] Albania Albania
ALG [4] Algeria Algeria AGR (1964), AGL (1968S)
AND [5] Andorra Andorra
ANG [6] Angola Angola
ANT [7] Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda
ARG [8] Argentina Argentina
ARM [9] Armenia Armenia
ARU [10] Aruba Aruba
ASA [11] American Samoa American Samoa
AUS [12] Australia Australia
AUT [13] Austria Austria
AZE [14] Azerbaijan Azerbaijan

[edit] B

Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used
BAH [15] Bahamas Bahamas
BAN [16] Bangladesh Bangladesh
BAR [17] Barbados Barbados BAD (1964)
BDI [18] Burundi Burundi
BEL [19] Belgium Belgium
BEN [20] Benin Benin DAY (1964), DAH (1968–1976)
BER [21] Bermuda Bermuda
BHU [22] Bhutan Bhutan
BIH [23] Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina BSH (1992S)
BIZ [24] Belize Belize HBR (1968–1972)
BLR [25] Belarus Belarus
BOL [26] Bolivia Bolivia
BOT [27] Botswana Botswana
BRA [28] Brazil Brazil
BRN [29] Bahrain Bahrain
BRU [30] Brunei Brunei
BUL [31] Bulgaria Bulgaria
BUR [32] Burkina Faso Burkina Faso VOL (1972–1984)

[edit] C

Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used
CAF [33] Central African Republic Central African Republic AFC (1968)
CAM [34] Cambodia Cambodia CAB (1964), KHM (1972–1976)
CAN [35] Canada Canada
CAY [36] Cayman Islands Cayman Islands
CGO [37] Congo Congo
CHA [38] Chad Chad CHD (1964)
CHI [39] Chile Chile CIL (1956W, 1960S)
CHN [40] China China
CIV [41] Côte d'Ivoire Côte d'Ivoire IVC (1964), CML (1968)
CMR [42] Cameroon Cameroon
COD [43] DR Congo DR Congo COK (1968), ZAI (1972–1996)
COK [44] Cook Islands Cook Islands
COL [45] Colombia Colombia
COM [46] Comoros Comoros
CPV [47] Cape Verde Cape Verde
CRC [48] Costa Rica Costa Rica COS (1964), CTC (1984W)
CRO [49] Croatia Croatia
CUB [50] Cuba Cuba
CYP [51] Cyprus Cyprus
CZE [52] Czech Republic Czech Republic

[edit] D

Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used
DEN [53] Denmark Denmark DAN (1960S, 1968W), DIN (1968S)
DJI [54] Djibouti Djibouti
DMA [55] Dominica Dominica
DOM [56] Dominican Republic Dominican Republic

[edit] E

Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used
ECU [57] Ecuador Ecuador
EGY [58] Egypt Egypt RAU (1960, 1968), UAR (1964)
ERI [59] Eritrea Eritrea
ESA [60] El Salvador El Salvador SAL (1964–1976)
ESP [61] Spain Spain SPA (1956–1964, 1968W)
EST [62] Estonia Estonia
ETH [63] Ethiopia Ethiopia ETI (1960, 1968)

[edit] F

Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used
FIJ [64] Fiji Fiji FIG (1960)
FIN [65] Finland Finland
FRA [66] France France
FSM [67] Micronesia Micronesia

[edit] G

Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used
GAB [68] Gabon Gabon
GAM [69] Gambia Gambia
GBR [70] Great Britain Great Britain GRB (1956W–1960), GBI (1964)
GBS [71] Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau
GEO [72] Georgia Georgia
GEQ [73] Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea
GER [74] Germany Germany ALL (1968W), ALE (1968S), FRG (1980–1988)
GHA [75] Ghana Ghana
GRE [76] Greece Greece
GRN [77] Grenada Grenada
GUA [78] Guatemala Guatemala GUT (1964)
GUI [79] Guinea Guinea
GUM [80] Guam Guam
GUY [81] Guyana Guyana GUA (1960), GUI (1964)

[edit] H

Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used
HAI [82] Haiti Haiti
HKG [83] Hong Kong Hong Kong HOK (1960–1968)
HON [84] Honduras Honduras
HUN [85] Hungary Hungary UNG (1956W, 1960S)

[edit] I

Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used
INA [86] Indonesia Indonesia INS (1960)
IND [87] India India
IRI [88] Iran Iran IRN (1956–1988), IRA (1968W)
IRL [89] Ireland Ireland
IRQ [90] Iraq Iraq IRK (1960, 1968)
ISL [91] Iceland Iceland ICE (1960W, 1964S)
ISR [92] Israel Israel
ISV [93] Virgin Islands Virgin Islands
ITA [94] Italy Italy
IVB [95] British Virgin Islands British Virgin Islands

[edit] J

Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used
JAM [96] Jamaica Jamaica
JOR [97] Jordan Jordan
JPN [98] Japan Japan GIA (1956W, 1960S), JAP (1960W)

[edit] K

Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used
KAZ [99] Kazakhstan Kazakhstan
KEN [100] Kenya Kenya
KGZ [101] Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan
KIR [102] Kiribati Kiribati
KOR [103] South Korea South Korea COR (1956W, 1960S, 1968S, 1972S)
KSA [104] Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia ARS (1968–1976), SAU (1980–1984)
KUW [105] Kuwait Kuwait

[edit] L

Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used
LAO [106] Laos Laos
LAT [107] Latvia Latvia
LBA [108] Libya Libya LYA (1964), LBY (1968W)
LBR [109] Liberia Liberia
LCA [110] Saint Lucia Saint Lucia
LES [111] Lesotho Lesotho
LIB [112] Lebanon Lebanon LEB (1960W, 1964S)
LIE [113] Liechtenstein Liechtenstein LIC (1956W, 1964S, 1968W)
LTU [114] Lithuania Lithuania LIT (1992W)
LUX [115] Luxembourg Luxembourg

[edit] M

Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used
MAD [116] Madagascar Madagascar MAG (1964)
MAR [117] Morocco Morocco MRC (1964)
MAS [118] Malaysia Malaysia MAL (1964–1988)
MAW [119] Malawi Malawi
MDA [120] Moldova Moldova MLD (1994)
MDV [121] Maldives Maldives
MEX [122] Mexico Mexico
MGL [123] Mongolia Mongolia MON (1968W)
MHL [124] Marshall Islands Marshall Islands
MKD [125] FYR Macedonia FYR Macedonia
MLI [126] Mali Mali
MLT [127] Malta Malta MAT (1960–1964)
MNE [128] Montenegro Montenegro
MON [129] Monaco Monaco
MOZ [130] Mozambique Mozambique
MRI [131] Mauritius Mauritius
MTN [132] Mauritania Mauritania
MYA [133] Myanmar Myanmar BIR (1960, 1968–1988), BUR (1964)

[edit] N

Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used
NAM [134] Namibia Namibia
NCA [135] Nicaragua Nicaragua NCG (1964), NIC (1968)
NED [136] Netherlands Netherlands OLA (1956W), NET (1960W), PBA (1960S), NLD (1964S), HOL (1968–1988)
NEP [137] Nepal Nepal
NGR [138] Nigeria Nigeria NGA (1964)
NIG [139] Niger Niger NGR (1964)
NOR [140] Norway Norway
NRU [141] Nauru Nauru
NZL [142] New Zealand New Zealand NZE (1960, 1968W)

[edit] O

Code Ref Nation (NOC)
OMA [143] Oman Oman

[edit] P

Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used
PAK [144] Pakistan Pakistan
PAN [145] Panama Panama
PAR [146] Paraguay Paraguay
PER [147] Peru Peru
PHI [148] Philippines Philippines FIL (1960, 1968)
PLE [149] Palestine Palestine
PLW [150] Palau Palau
PNG [151] Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea NGY (1976–1980), NGU (1984–1988)
POL [152] Poland Poland
POR [153] Portugal Portugal
PRK [154] North Korea North Korea NKO (1964S, 1968W), CDN (1968)
PUR [155] Puerto Rico Puerto Rico PRI (1960), PRO (1968)

[edit] Q

Code Ref Nation (NOC)
QAT [156] Qatar Qatar

[edit] R

Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used
ROU [157] Romania Romania ROM (1956–1960, 1972–2006), RUM (1964–1968)
RSA [158] South Africa South Africa SAF (1960–1972)
RUS [159] Russia Russia
RWA [160] Rwanda Rwanda

[edit] S

Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used
SAM [161] Samoa Samoa
SEN [162] Senegal Senegal SGL (1964)
SEY [163] Seychelles Seychelles
SIN [164] Singapore Singapore
SKN [165] Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis
SLE [166] Sierra Leone Sierra Leone SLA (1968)
SLO [167] Slovenia Slovenia
SMR [168] San Marino San Marino SMA (1960–1964)
SOL [169] Solomon Islands Solomon Islands
SOM [170] Somalia Somalia
SRB [171] Serbia Serbia
SRI [172] Sri Lanka Sri Lanka CEY (1960–1972)
STP [173] São Tomé and Príncipe São Tomé and Príncipe
SUD [174] Sudan Sudan
SUI [175] Switzerland Switzerland SVI (1956W, 1960S), SWI (1960W, 1964S)
SUR [176] Suriname Suriname
SVK [177] Slovakia Slovakia
SWE [178] Sweden Sweden SVE (1956W, 1960S), SUE (1968S)
SWZ [179] Swaziland Swaziland
SYR [180] Syria Syria SIR (1968)

[edit] T

Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used
TAN [181] Tanzania Tanzania
TGA [182] Tonga Tonga TON (1984)
THA [183] Thailand Thailand TAI (1960, 1968)
TJK [184] Tajikistan Tajikistan
TKM [185] Turkmenistan Turkmenistan
TLS [186] Timor-Leste Timor-Leste
TOG [187] Togo Togo
TPE [188] Chinese Taipei Chinese Taipei RCF (1960), TWN (1964–1968), ROC (1972–1976)
TRI [189] Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago TRT (1964–1968)
TUN [190] Tunisia Tunisia
TUR [191] Turkey Turkey
TUV [192] Tuvalu Tuvalu

[edit] U

Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used
UAE [193] United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates
UGA [194] Uganda Uganda
UKR [195] Ukraine Ukraine
URU [196] Uruguay Uruguay URG (1968)
USA [197] United States United States SUA (1960S), EUA (1968S)
UZB [198] Uzbekistan Uzbekistan

[edit] V

Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used
VAN [199] Vanuatu Vanuatu
VEN [200] Venezuela Venezuela
VIE [201] Vietnam Vietnam VET (1964), VNM (1968–1976)
VIN [202] Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

[edit] Y

Code Ref Nation (NOC)
YEM [203] Yemen Yemen

[edit] Z

Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used
ZAM [204] Zambia Zambia NRH (1964)
ZIM [205] Zimbabwe Zimbabwe RHO (1960–1972)

[edit] Historic NOCs and teams

[edit] Codes still in use

Twelve historical NOCs or teams have codes that are still used in the IOC results database[2] to refer to past medal winners from these teams.

Code Nation/Team Other codes used
ANZ Australasia Australasia
BOH Bohemia Bohemia
BWI British West Indies British West Indies ANT (1960, 1968), WID (1964)
EUA Flag of Germany United Team of Germany GER (1956–1964)
EUN Unified Team
FRG West Germany West Germany ALL (1968W), ALE (1968S), GER (1972–1976)
GDR East Germany East Germany ADE (1968)
SCG Serbia and Montenegro Serbia and Montenegro
TCH Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia CSL (1956W), CZE (1960W), CSV (1960S), CZS (1964S), CHE (1968S)
URS Soviet Union Soviet Union SOV (1968W)
YUG Yugoslavia Yugoslavia JUG (1956–1960, 1968W), YUS (1964S)
ZZX Mixed teams

[edit] Obsolete codes

Code Nation (NOC) Years Notes
BIR Flag of Burma Burma 1948–1988 Now Myanmar Myanmar (MYA)
CEY Flag of Sri Lanka Ceylon 1948–1972 Now Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (SRI)
DAH Flag of Dahomey Dahomey 1964–1976 Now Benin Benin (BEN)
HBR Flag of British Honduras British Honduras 1968–1972 Now Belize Belize (BIZ)
KHM Flag of Cambodia Khmer Republic 1972–1976 Now Cambodia Cambodia (CAM)
MAL Flag of Federation of Malaya Malaya 1956–1960 Competed independently prior to the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
Now Malaysia Malaysia (MAS)
Flag of North Borneo North Borneo 1956
NRH Flag of Northern Rhodesia Northern Rhodesia 1964 Now Zambia Zambia (ZAM)
ROC Flag of the Republic of China Republic of China 1932–1976 Now Chinese Taipei Chinese Taipei (TPE)
RHO Flag of Rhodesia Rhodesia 1960–1972 Now Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (ZIM)
UAR Flag of United Arab Republic United Arab Republic 1960–1968 Now Egypt Egypt (EGY)
VOL Flag of Upper Volta Upper Volta 1972–1984 Now Burkina Faso Burkina Faso (BUR)
YAR Flag of Yemen Arab Republic North Yemen 1984–1988 Competed independently prior to Yemenite unification in 1990.
Now Yemen Yemen (YEM)
YMD Flag of People's Democratic Republic of Yemen South Yemen 1988
YUG Flag of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslavia 1996–2002 As Serbia and Montenegro Serbia and Montenegro (SCG) 2004–2006
ZAI Flag of Zaire Zaire 1972–1996 Now DR Congo DR Congo (COD)
Flag of British Guiana British Guiana 1948–1964 Now Guyana Guyana (GUY)
Flag of Gold Coast (British colony) Gold Coast 1952 Now Ghana Ghana (GHA)
Flag of Saar (protectorate) 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.

[edit] Special codes

  • ANZ is now used in the IOC's medal database[2] 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[2] 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.
  • 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.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Mallon, Bill; Ove Karlsson (May 2004). "IOC and OCOG Abbreviations for NOCs" (PDF). Journal of Olympic History 12 (2): pp. 25-28. 
  2. ^ a b c Olympic Medal Winners. International Olympic Committee. Retrieved on 2008-02-08.