South Sudan to take part in London Olympics

Athletes from South Sudan, which declared its independence on the weekend, will be able to take part in the London Olympics in 2012 but possibly not under their own flag. The world's newest country must have a National Olympic Committee (NOC) before admittance to the International Olympic Committee, said the IOC, which automatically accepts any country recognised by the United Nations. "The constitution of a NOC is relatively long," an IOC official said, raising the question over whether it could be completed before the start of the London Games on July 27, 2012. If that process is not completed, athletes from South Sudan would not lose out because they would be authorised to take part "under other colours", the official said without elaborating. South Sudan declared independence before tens of thousands of its citizens and numerous foreign leaders on Saturday after nearly 50 years of war with Sudan and millions of deaths. The international community, and in particular the United States, China, Russia and the European Union, were quick to recognise the world's newest country, which despite its vast oil reserves is among the poorest in the world. The UN said Monday that South Sudan will become the 193rd member state of the United Nations when the UN General Assembly will meet on Thursday to formally announce its membership.