2012 Olympics: Swimming

Territories and dependent states can have their own Olympic committees and teams if both primary nation and territory want it to be so- Puerto Rico, the USVI and BVI, Bermuda, and Guam among others compete under their own flag. (France seems to not allow it so we end up with Coralie Balmy swimming for France instead of Martinique) The Faroe Islands don't have their own able-bodied Olympic Committee, even though they apparently compete separately in many sports and the Paralympics, so they're under the Danish flag for Olympic purposes. There's apparently some sort of kerfluffle about the Netherlands getting rid of the Netherlands Antilles Olympic Committee (It had been in existence for a number of years post-Enith Brigitta) and as a result, three islands athletes have successfully petitioned to compete under the IOC flag instead of under the Netherlands flag. The fourth athlete to compete under the Olympic flag this year is Guor Marial, who really has a emarkable story as South Sudan's first elite athlete: www.guardian.co.uk/.../south-sudan-refugee-independent-olympic He ran an Olympic A- qualifier time a while back, and with help from lawyer friends and at least one US legislator got permission from the IOC last week to come to the Games.

Territories and dependent states can have their own Olympic committees and teams if both primary nation and territory want it to be so- Puerto Rico, the USVI and BVI, Bermuda, and Guam among others compete under their own flag. (France seems to not allow it so we end up with Coralie Balmy swimming for France instead of Martinique) The Faroe Islands don't have their own able-bodied Olympic Committee, even though they apparently compete separately in many sports and the Paralympics, so they're under the Danish flag for Olympic purposes. There's apparently some sort of kerfluffle about the Netherlands getting rid of the Netherlands Antilles Olympic Committee (It had been in existence for a number of years post-Enith Brigitta) and as a result, three islands athletes have successfully petitioned to compete under the IOC flag instead of under the Netherlands flag. The fourth athlete to compete under the Olympic flag this year is Guor Marial, who really has a emarkable story as South Sudan's first elite athlete: www.guardian.co.uk/.../south-sudan-refugee-independent-olympic He ran an Olympic A- qualifier time a while back, and with help from lawyer friends and at least one US legislator got permission from the IOC last week to come to the Games.