Papua New Guinea (PNG)

The first discussions to recognize an Olympic Committee of Papua New Guinea started in the 1950s, at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Cortina d’Ampezzo. The proposition was rejected on 20 November 1956, at the IOC session in Melbourne. The Papua New Guinea Sports Federation was founded in 1961 to allow the Territory of Papua and New Guinea to participate in the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. On October 1963, at the IOC Session in Baden-Baden, the recognition was postponed and again rejected in February 1972, at the IOC Session in Sapporo. The IOC finally recognized the National Olympic Committee (NOC) in 1974.

After their independence from Australia on 16 September 1975, Papua New Guinea has competed at every Olympic Games since they made their début in 1976, with the exception of 1980. No athletes from Papua-New Guinea have competed at the Olympic Winter Games.

In 2004, Dika Toua posted its best Olympic performance yet, when she placed sixth in featherweight weightlifting, although in a field of only eight competitors. She was equaled by compatriot weightlifter Morea Baru, who also finished sixth in 2016, now in a field of 17 competitors. More impressive was the performance of butterfly swimmer Ryan Pini, who came eighth in the final of the 100 metre butterfly in Beijing, with 64 other swimmers competing.