Angola (ANG)

Angola’s first application for Olympic recognition was rejected at the 1975 International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Lausanne. However, after the formation of a National Olympic Committee on 17 February 1979, provisional recognition was granted at a meeting of the IOC Executive Board in Nagoya in October 1979 and full recognition followed at the IOC session in Lake Placid on 12 February 1980. After first competing at the Olympics that year, Angola has also competed at all Olympic Games since 1988, but has not yet competed at the Olympic Winter Games.

Angola had their biggest team sent to London in 2012 when they have been represented by 33 athletes – 4 men and 29 women (including a female basketball and handball team). The top Angolan Olympic performance likely occurred in 1992 at Barcelona when its male basketball team qualified for the Olympics but drew the United States “Dream Team” as a first-round opponent. It eventually finished 10th of 12 teams. In the same edition of the Games, its male roller hockey team finished ninth of 12 teams in that demonstration sport. In 1996, Angola’s women handball finished seventh of eight teams.