2016 Summer Olympics participant Independent Olympic Athletes at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Number of athletes by National Olympic Committee
11,238 athletes from 207 NOCsRefugee athletes
Due to the European migrant crisis and other reasons, the IOC allowed athletes to compete as Independent Olympians under the Olympic Flag. During the previous Summer Olympic Games, refugees were ineligible to compete because of their inability to represent their home NOCs. On 2 March 2016, the IOC finalized plans for a specific Refugee Olympic Team (ROT); out of 43 refugee athletes deemed potentially eligible, 10 were chosen to form the team.