Several U.S. and British territories compete in the Olympics on their own teams. We VERIFY why they can field teams even though they aren’t independent countries.
The 2024 Paris Olympics are now in full swing, and the United States is already collecting many medals.
But some American athletes who live in U.S. territories aren’t competing for Team USA. A popular Google search over the last week asks if Puerto Rico, which is a U.S. territory, has its own Olympic team, with others asking why that’s allowed.
THE QUESTION
Are U.S. territories like Puerto Rico allowed to have their own Olympic teams?
THE SOURCES
THE ANSWER
Yes, U.S. territories like Puerto Rico are allowed to have their own Olympic teams.
WHAT WE FOUND
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) says countries do not compete in the Olympic Games, but instead National Olympic Committees (NOCs) compete. Several U.S. territories have National Olympic Committees and can therefore compete in the Olympics.
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