Zaire, officially the Republic of Zaire, was the name of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1971 to 1997. Located in Central Africa, it was, by area, the third-largest country in Africa after Sudan and Algeria, and the 11th-largest country in the world from 1965 to 1997. With a population of over 23 million, Zaire was the most populous Francophone country in Africa. Zaire played a central role during the Cold War.
Australia competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece from 13 to 29 August 2004. Australian athletes have competed in every Summer Olympic Games of the modern era. The Australian Olympic Committee sent a total of 470 athletes to the Games to compete in 29 sports.
China competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, from 13 to 29 August 2004. This was the nation's ninth appearance at the Summer Olympics since its debut in 1952. A total of 384 Chinese athletes, 136 men and 248 women, were selected by the Chinese Olympic Committee to compete in 28 sports. For the third time in its Olympic history, China was represented by more female than male athletes.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, from 13 to 29 August 2004.
The DR Congo national football team, recognised by FIFA as Congo DR, represents the Democratic Republic of the Congo in men's international football and it is controlled by the Congolese Association Football Federation. They are nicknamed Les Léopards, meaning The Leopards. The team is a member of FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The United States of America (USA) competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. 545 competitors, 355 men and 190 women, took part in 248 events in 28 sports. At the closing ceremony, a segment of American culture was performed, as the country hosted the next Olympics in Atlanta.
The United States (USA) was the host nation for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. 646 competitors, 375 men and 271 women, took part in 263 events in 31 sports.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. The games marked the country's first appearance under its current moniker; in 1968, it was represented as Congo-Kinshasa, and from 1984 to 1996, it was represented as Zaire.
Angola competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States.
Zaire competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. Seventeen competitors, fifteen men and two women, took part in fourteen events in four sports.
Zaire competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.
The Central African Republic competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. This marked the third appearance of the nation at a Summer Olympics. The country entered 15 competitors, the highest number of Central Africans appearing at any Games so far; with the basketball team comprising 12 of them. In addition to the boxers Fidèle Mohinga and Moussa Wiawindi, there was marathon runner Adolphe Ambowodé, who had previously competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics. No medals were won by any of those athletes.
Zaire competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, United States. It had been 16 years since the previous time that the nation was represented at the Olympic Games as Congo-Kinshasa.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo first participated at the Olympic Games in 1968, when it was known as Congo Kinshasa. The nation's next Olympic appearance was sixteen years later in 1984, when it was known as Zaire. The nation has sent athletes to compete in every Summer Olympic Games since then, but has never participated in the Winter Olympic Games. By the 2000 Games, the nation was once again designated Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012. This was the nation's ninth appearance at the Olympics since its debut in 1968, although four of its appearances were under the name "Zaire", and the first appearance was under the name "Congo Kinshasa".
During the Parade of Nations portion of the 1996 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, athletes from each country participating in the Olympics paraded in the arena, preceded by their flag. The flag was borne by a sportsperson from that country chosen either by the National Olympic Committee or by the athletes themselves to represent their country.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. This was the nation's tenth appearance at the Summer Olympics since its debut in 1968, although it had previously competed in four editions under the name Zaire.
The women's tournament of basketball at the 1996 Olympics at Atlanta, United States began on July 21 and ended on August 4, when the United States defeated Brazil 111–87 for the gold medal.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Originally scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August 2020, the Games were postponed to 23 July to 8 August 2021, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the nation's eleventh consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics, although it had previously competed in four editions under the name Zaire.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is scheduled to compete at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris from 26 July to 11 August 2024. It will be the nation's twelfth consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics since the nation's official debut at the 1968 Summer Olympics under the name of Congo-Kinshasa, and it had previously competed in four editions under the name Zaire, 16 years after the nation's official debut.
