11.   When nations are at war or strongly disagree with each other, they sometimes refuse to send their athletes to the Olympics.

12.   A few athletes have been sent home for stealing.

13.   Despite its sporting prowess, China has until now not shown huge interest in sending athletes overseas.

14.   Djibouti is sending one athlete.

15.   Even Tajikistan, embroiled in civil war for much of its independence from the Soviet Union, will send nine athletes.

16.   Germany is sending more athletes to Nagano than ever before to a Winter Olympics.

17.   He said a sports body would need a huge amount of funds to sent its athletes abroad, while the budget was very limited.

18.   Iran did not send any athletes to the preliminary round.

19.   Japan also decided not to send its athletes because of security.

20.   Knight said he did not expect the IOC to send more athletes than Sydney was prepared to accommodate.