List of IOC country codes

The flag of the international Olympic movement
The flag of the international Paralympic movement

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.

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 committees 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 205 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
AHO [2] Netherlands Antilles ATO (1960), NAN (1964)
ALB [3] Albania
ALG [4] Algeria AGR (1964), AGL (1968 S)
AND [5] Andorra
ANG [6] Angola
ANT [7] Antigua and Barbuda
ARG [8] Argentina
ARM [9] Armenia
ARU [10] Aruba
ASA [11] American Samoa
AUS [12] Australia
AUT [13] Austria
AZE [14] Azerbaijan

B

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

C

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

D

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

E

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

F

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

G

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

H

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

I

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

J

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

K

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

L

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

M

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

N

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

O

Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used
OMA [143] Oman

P

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

Q

Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used
QAT [156] Qatar

R

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

S

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

T

Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used
TAN [181] Tanzania
TGA [182] Tonga TON (1984)
THA [183] Thailand TAI (1960, 1968)
TJK [184] Tajikistan
TKM [185] Turkmenistan
TLS [186] Timor-Leste
TOG [187] Togo
TPE [188] Chinese Taipei[3] RCF (1960), TWN (1964–1968), ROC (1972–1976)
TRI [189] Trinidad and Tobago TRT (1964–1968)
TUN [190] Tunisia
TUR [191] Turkey
TUV [192] Tuvalu

U

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

V

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

Y

Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used
YEM [203] Yemen

Z

Code Ref Nation (NOC) Other codes used
ZAM [204] Zambia NRH (1964)
ZIM [205] 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
ANZ Australasia
BOH Bohemia
BWI British West Indies ANT (1960, 1968), WID (1964)
EUA Germany United 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 Cambodia Khmer Republic 1972–1976 Now  Cambodia (CAM)
MAL  Malaya 1956–1960 Competed independently prior to the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
Now  Malaysia (MAS)
 North Borneo 1956
NRH  Northern Rhodesia 1964 Now  Zambia (ZAM)
RAU  United Arab Republic 1960 Now  Egypt (EGY)
and  Syria (SYR)
RHO  Rhodesia 1960–1972 Now  Zimbabwe (ZIM)
ROC  Republic of China 1932–1976 Now  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.
Now  Yemen (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:

Special codes

See also

References

  1. Mallon, Bill; Ove Karlsson (May 2004). "IOC and OCOG Abbreviations for NOCs" (PDF). Journal of Olympic History 12 (2): 25–28. http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/JOH/JOHv12n2/johv12n2l.pdf. Retrieved 2008-02-08. 
  2. Faroe IslandsMacau, China
  3. Official name given to the Republic of China for Olympic competition
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Olympic Medal Winners". International Olympic Committee. http://www.olympic.org/uk/athletes/results/search_r_uk.asp. Retrieved 2008-02-08.