Sport in East Timor

East Timor is a relatively new country. As one of the world's poorest countries, athletic activities are limited at the professional level.

International sports associations

East Timor belongs to numerous international sport associations, including the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC board has granted full recognition to the East Timorese Olympic Committee (COTL). The IOC allowed a symbolic four-member East Timor team to take part in the 2000 Sydney Games under the Olympic flag as "Independent Olympic Athletes."[1] The Federaçao Timor-Leste de Atletismo had joined the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The Federaçao de Badminton de Timor-Leste joined the International Badminton Federation (IBF) in April 2003. The East Timor Cycling Federation joined the Union Cycliste Internationale. Confederacao do Desporto de Timor Leste also joined the International Weightlifting Federation. East Timor is also a full member of the International Table-Tennis Federation (ITTF). In September 2005, East Timor's national football team joined FIFA, East Timor's national basketball team joined FIBA in 2013.

Participation in international events

East Timor has taken part in multiple international sporting events. Although the athletes came back with no medals, East Timorese athletes had the opportunity to compete with other Southeast Asian athletes in the 2003 Southeast Asian Games held in Vietnam in 2003. In the 2003 ASEAN Paralympics Games, also held in Vietnam, East Timor won a bronze medal. In the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, six athletes participated in three sports: athletics, weightlifting and boxing). East Timor won three medals in Arnis at the 2005 Southeast Asian Games. East Timor was one of the competing nations in the first Lusophony Games, winning a bronze medal in the women's volleyball competition (finishing third out of three teams, despite the fact the team lost all three games in which it competed). On 30 October 2008, East Timor earned their first international points in a FIFA match with a 2–2 draw against Cambodia.[2]

See also

• Sports in Asia
• East Timor at the Olympics

References

1. "Summer Olympics 2000 East Timor's tiny team gets warm welcome". ESPN Internet Ventures. 18 October 2000. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
2. "World's worst soccer team thrilled to get first tie". Reuters. 30 October 2008. Archived from the original on 2 November 2008. With 2–2 finish vs. Cambodia, East Timor finally has reason to celebrate