Lausanne, August 4, 2015 – During its 128th Session in Kuala Lumpur, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved the full recognition of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of South Sudan, which becomes the latest territory to be recognised by the IOC following the NOC of Kosovo last December. The IOC now counts 206 NOCs. 

IOC President Thomas Bach personally welcomed the South Sudan NOC, represented by its President Lt. Gen Wilson Deng Kuoirot and its Secretary General Tong Chor Malek Deran, into the Olympic fold and presented them with a certificate of recognition and an Olympic flag.

This recognition comes after years of collaboration between the IOC, the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) and the local sports bodies.

It has taken some time for the sports structures to be established in South Sudan, which became an independent country on 9 July 2011 and shortly thereafter, a UN Member State on 14 July 2011. At present, it counts seven Olympic sports federations.

The NOC of Sudan was also praised for its key role in facilitating the establishment of a South Sudanese National Olympic Committee.

“We would like to thank the NOC of Sudan who has been a real partner and friend,” stated President Bach. “On behalf of the entire Olympic Movement, I would like to thank you for your great cooperation with your South Sudanese neighbours. It is an example of what sport can do and demonstrates also what autonomy of sport from politics really means because despite political dispute, you have worked together with your friends and neighbours and have made this recognition possible.”

The Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will the first time in history that the South Soudan athletes will march behind their national flag.