How Many Countries Are Taking Part in The Paris Olympics 2024 Games?

July 27, 2024 BusinessTrumpet

The Paris Olympics 2024, as stated by the International Olympic Committee, will feature more than 10,500 athletes representing 184 Countries in 206 National Olympic Committees and in 32 sports and 329 events throughout the Games, in addition to coaches and team officials. The Games will take place over a two-week period from July 26 to Aug. 11.

Over 300,000 spectators were on hand to witness the opening ceremony of the 33rd Olympics (XXXIII Olympiad Paris 2024) live in Paris with millions worldwide watching via their screens. For the first time, the Olympics opening ceremony was not held inside a Stadium but the entire city served as the opening venue for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Athletes will not compete under their countries’ names, but rather as members of “National Olympic Committees.”

Nigeria's contingent to the Paris Olympics 2024 during the opening ceremony on the Siene River — Nigeria’s contingent to the Paris Olympics 2024 during the opening ceremony on the Siene River

Of the countries competing in the Paris Olympics 2024 Games, 33 have 100 or more athletes representing them, with 12 countries represented by 250 or more athletes. Russia and Belarus have been barred from participating due to the conflict in Ukraine, but athletes from these nations will still compete as “Individual Neutral Athletes” under a neutral flag.

The United States will have the largest contingent at the Paris Olympics 2024 with 594 athletes, followed by France with 572 athletes, and Australia with 460 athletes. Egypt with 149 Athletes has the largest African contingent followed by South Africa with 138 Athletes and Nigeria with 85 Athletes. The countries with the smallest number of Athletes are Belize, Nauru, Eswatini, Liechtenstein and Somalia all have one each while American Samoa, Andora, Cook Islands, Mauritania, Myanmar and Tuvalu have two Athletes each. The following countries each have three Athletes representing them at the Games: Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Equatorial Guinea, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Palau, Seychelles, and Solomon Islands

According to the International Olympic Committee the purpose of a National Olympic Committee is “to ensure the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games by sending competitors and officials as well as to promote the fundamental principles and values of Olympism in their countries, in particular in the fields of sport and education.” Thus, each of the National Olympic Committees is legally and politically autonomous from the country it represents, and must be recognized by the IOC..

The IOC Refugee Team at the Paris Olympics 2024 Games

In addition to the National Olympic Committees for Countries, there is the IOC Refugee Team participating at the Paris Olympics 2024. The IOC Refugee Team was established in 2016 during the Rio Olympics, offering displaced refugees the opportunity to compete as a team. The upcoming 2026 Dakar Games will also include an IOC Refugee Team. The International Olympic Committee President, Thomas Bach, said this about the IOC Refugee Team:

“The IOC Refugee Olympic Team sends a great signal about what an enrichment refugees are for our Olympic community and for society at large. Watching them compete is a great moment for all of us, and we hope everyone will join. The athletes are welcome in our Olympic community, among their fellow athletes – competing with them, but also living with them together under one roof.” The IOC Refugee Team features 37 athletes this year.

The list of countries competing in the Games, along with the number of athletes from each country, is as follows.