French Polynesia is an overseas territoire (territoire d’outre-mer) of France. Nearly 75 percent of the population lives on the largest and best known island of Tahiti. The nation of French Polynesia is an archipelago of 130 islands and coral atolls in the South Pacific, only 25 of which are inhabited. Independently as Tahiti, there are affiliations with at least 13 International Federations, as follows: aquatics (swimming, diving, water polo), archery, athletics (track & field), basketball, boxing, football (soccer), judo, sailing, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, volleyball, and weightlifting. International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognition for either Tahiti or French Polynesia is a slim possibility in the near future, as the nation does have a National Olympic Committee (NOC). This committee was formed on 3 January 1973 as Comité Territorial des Sports (later known as Comité Territorial Olympique et Sportif). On 2 September 2000 it was renamed to Comité Olympique de Polynésie Française.
French Polynesia has competed in the Pacific Games and at the World Championships in Athletics (for the first time in 2009) as French Polynesia. In FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) tournaments they participate as Tahiti. Since 1994 they play regularly in the World Cup qualification stage and after winning the 2012 OFC (Oceania Football Confederation) Nations Cup, the tiny nation took part in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.
For the Paris 2024 Olympic Games the surfing competition is scheduled to take place in French Polynesia, off the island of Tahiti.
Presidents of the Comité Olympique de Polynésie Française (known as Comité Territorial des Sports 1973-? and Comité Territorial Olympique et Sportif ?-2000):
- Tauhiti Nena (?-2001)
- Louis Provost (2001-2008)
- Tauhiti Nena (2008-2017)
- Louis Provost (2017-present)
