KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — South Sudan has received official recognition from the IOC, allowing the world’s newest nation to send a team under its own flag to next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
South Sudan, which split from Sudan and became independent in 2011, has been torn by civil war for the past two years.
The IOC’s executive board had recommended its inclusion last week, and on Sunday the full IOC session voted in favor.
At the 2012 London Olympics, South Sudanese marathon runner Guor Marial competed as an independent athlete under the IOC flag. He finished 47th.
South Sudan becomes the 206th national Olympic committee recognized by the IOC.
