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The first ban to ever be implemented in the modern Olympics Games came after the events of World War I. Due to its involvement in the war, Germany was prohibited from competing at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics and also at the 1924 Paris Olympics.
This exclusion was part of the Allied powers' punitive measures that were outlined in the Treaty of Versailles, which held Germany responsible for the war. The ban aimed to isolate Germany and ensure it faced consequences for its aggressive actions during the war.
Alongside Germany, Austria was also banned from the 1920 Antwerp Olympics (pictured) as part of the punitive measures following World War I. But the nation was allowed to return for the 1924 Games.
As an ally of Germany and a member of the Central Powers, Austria was held responsible for its role in the war, which led to widespread devastation and loss of life. The ban aimed to hold Austria accountable for its military aggression and political alliances during the conflict.
The 1984 Summer Olympics also saw Hungary absent from the roster, as it was willfully part of a Soviet-led boycott of the Games. Including Hungary, 14 nations refused to participate that year.
Similar to Hungary, Bulgaria was also banned from the 1920 Antwerp Olympics due to its alliance with the Central Powers during World War I. It was also part of the Soviet-led boycott in 1984.
Unlike Germany after the World War I, Bulgaria was permitted to return to the Olympic Games in 1924, during which they didn’t win a single Olympic medal.
Turkey was the last nation to be banned from the 1920 Antwerp Olympics as a consequence of its involvement in World War I. Turkey's ban was influenced by the aftermath of the war, including the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire and the significant political and social upheaval that followed.
Turkey was permitted to once again compete in the Olympics in 1924. In 1980, Turkey joined the United States-led boycott of the Games, which is considered the largest boycott in Olympic history and saw 67 nations refusing to compete.
Following World War II, the atrocities and wartime actions committed by Germany saw the nation once again banned from being allowed to compete in the Games, this time in the 1948 London Olympics. The ban was lifted for the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.
Interestingly, Germany had actually been selected to host the 1916 Summer Olympics and the 1940 Winter Olympics, but both had to be canceled due to the World Wars (of which Germany had been a major part).
After Japan showed major progress in post-war recovery and democratization, the country was reinstated for the 1952 Olympics that took place in Helsinki.
Of all the countries on this list, South Africa experienced the longest Olympic ban in history, which stretched over 28 years from 1964 to 1992. The country was banned from the Olympics due to its apartheid regime, which enforced racial segregation and discrimination within its borders.
The apartheid laws put in place by South Africa were a violation of the Olympic Charter’s principles of equality, which is why the ban was instated. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) eventually lifted the ban after the end of apartheid in 1990, thanks largely to Nelson Mandela.
Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) was banned from the Olympics in 1972 due to its unrecognized government and controversial racial policies. The IOC faced significant pressure from African nations that condemned Rhodesia's minority white-led government and its systemic racial discrimination against the black majority.
The Olympic ban highlighted the world’s opposition to Rhodesia's policies, similar to the position held against South Africa. The ban remained in place until Rhodesia transitioned to Zimbabwe and adopted majority rule in 1980.
The Middle Eastern nation of Afghanistan was banned from the 2000 Sydney Olympics primarily due to the Taliban regime's severe restrictions on women and its general human rights abuses. The Taliban's policies prohibited women from participating in sports and public life, which starkly contrasted with the Olympic Charter's principles of gender equality and inclusivity.
The ban remained in place until the fall of the Taliban in 2001, after which the country began rebuilding its sports infrastructure and promoting more inclusive policies. These changes allowed Afghanistan to return to the Olympics in 2004, which were held in Athens, the birthplace of the Games.
In 2015, Kuwait was banned from the Olympics due to government interference in its National Olympic Committee (NOC) and sports federations, which violated the International Olympic Committee's rules ensuring the autonomy of national sports bodies.
The IOC suspended Kuwait's Olympic Committee, and, as a result, Kuwaiti athletes were forced to compete under the Olympic flag as independents during the 2016 Rio Olympics. The suspension was eventually lifted in 2019.
In 2015, a widespread state-sponsored doping scandal was brought to light, and evidence showed that Russian authorities had systematically manipulated drug-testing procedures to illegally enhance athletic performance. Russia was subsequently suspended from several Games, including the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang and the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.
The 2024 Paris Olympics saw Russia banned for another reason entirely. Due to the country’s involvement in the ongoing war against Ukraine, Russian athletes have been barred from representing their country. As a result, 15 athletes from Russia were set to compete as neutral competitors under the Olympic flag.
Alongside Russia, the country of Belarus was also not permitted to compete in the 2024 Olympic Games due to its involvement in the Russo-Ukrainian War. Aside from the IOC, many countries have imposed sanctions against Russia and Belarus.
According to the International Olympic Committee, the 2024 Games were set to have 18 athletes from Belarus competing as Individual Neutral Athletes. These athletes do not have any flags associated with them, and their attire is vividly lacking in this feature.
In 2012, the International Olympic Committee suspended India due to the government’s interference in the Indian Olympic Association's election process and the election of officials who were in violation of the IOC's ethics guidelines.
After the Indian Olympic Association held fresh elections that complied with the IOC’s regulations, the suspension was lifted in 2014 just before the Sochi Olympics. Although India was banned, there were no Olympic Games scheduled during the time of their suspension.
The ban against North Korea meant that the country was not allowed to participate in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 Beijing Olympics. In 2024, the country returned to the Olympic stage during the Paris Games.
Sources: (Business Standard) (Al Jazeera) (Topend Sports)
Following concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, North Korea unilaterally withdrew from the Olympic Games. This withdrawal violated the Olympic Charter (which mandates participation and cooperation among National Olympic Committees) and North Korea was subsequently banned.
Over the decades, many Olympic Games have seen a plethora of scandals and controversies that have only added to the drama of the events. Between both World Wars and various other political agendas, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has often made the difficult choice to officially ban countries from being allowed to participate in the Games. This decision has often been a way of curbing any issues that may arise at the Olympics, but you might be surprised to find out which countries have actually been banned over the years.
Curious? Click through this gallery to see why certain nations have been forbidden to compete.
Hungary was another member of the Central Powers that was banned from the 1920 Antwerp Olympics due to its role during World War I. Alongside Germany and Austria, Hungary was held accountable for its participation in the conflict that resulted in significant global destruction and loss of life. Pictured is Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary.
Countries that have been banned from the Olympics
Some nations have truly made a name in history because of their negative politics
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Over the decades, many Olympic Games have seen a plethora of scandals and controversies that have only added to the drama of the events. Between both World Wars and various other political agendas, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has often made the difficult choice to officially ban countries from being allowed to participate in the Games. This decision has often been a way of curbing any issues that may arise at the Olympics, but you might be surprised to find out which countries have actually been banned over the years.
Curious? Click through this gallery to see why certain nations have been forbidden to compete.