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Sports in East Timor

East Timor, although a new country, had already participated in the international sports scene.

East Timor had now joined many international sport associations, including the IOC. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) board had granted full recognition to the East Timorese Olympic Committee (COTL). The IOC had allowed a mainly symbolic four-member team to take part in the 2000 Sydney Games under the Olympic flag as "Independent Olympic Athletes." The Federaçao Timor-Leste de Atletismo had joined the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The Federaçao de Badminton de Timor-Leste had joined the International Badminton Federation (IBF) in April 2003. The East Timor Cycling Federation had joined the Union Cycliste Internationale. Confederacao do Desporto de Timor Leste also joined the International Weightlifting Federation. East Timor is also a full member of the International Table-Tennis Federation (ITTF).

East Timor had joined many sport events. In the 22nd SEA Games held in Vietnam in 2003, althpugh the athletes came back with no medals, the athletes were happy to have the opportunity to perform and compete with the best athletes coming from South East Asia countries. The equipments of the athletes were lent to them by some nations in South East Asia like Malaysia. In the 2003 ASEAN Paralympics Games also held in Vietnam, a bronze was won. In the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, six athletes particpated in three sports (athletics, weightlifting and boxing) and they won no medals.

On East Timor's performance in the 22nd SEA Games in 2003, East Timor's karate coach Austo Aparicio said, ``This was an opportunity for our athletes to gain experience. East Timor is still young, so it has lots of financial problems, He also commented on his team's karate performance, ``We are fairly good at karate and we can make sure that we win a medal in that in the Philippines in 2005.

Last updated: 05-03-2005 17:50:55