The Tunisian Olympic Committee (, "CNOT") sent the nation's largest delegation to the Games, surpassing the record by three athletes short in Atlanta eight years earlier. A total of 54 athletes, 44 men and 10 women, competed only in 14 sports. men's football, and men's indoor volleyball were the only team-based sports in which Tunisia had its representation at these Olympic Games. Among the sports played by the athletes, Tunisia marked its Olympic debut in artistic gymnastics and taekwondo. Five Tunisian athletes had previously competed in Sydney, including race walker Hatem Ghoula, and swimmer Oussama Mellouli, who won the bronze at the 2003 FINA World Championships in Barcelona, Spain. Meanwhile, volleyball team captain Noureddine Hfaiedh was the nation's flag bearer in the opening ceremony.