Most of the leading nations have finalised their teams with the Rio Olympics only a few days away.
Australia is likely to have the fifth largest team with 410 athletes. The top four nations are the United States (555), Brazil (465), Germany (425) and China (416).
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The home nation Brazil will have the second largest team, as it is generally allowed to be represented in all sports and events. Great Britain, the host nation at the 2012 Olympics, has seen their numbers drop from 541 to 366 athletes in Rio.
Australia’s team size at this stage matches London. It is a large team and has benefited from Australia qualifying in many team sports – basketball (men and women), football (women), hockey (men and women), rugby sevens (men and women), synchronised swimming and water polo (men and women).
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Australia did not qualify any teams in handball, indoor volleyball and men’s football. In addition, no athletes were selected in fencing.
It is Australia’s equal fifth largest team after Sydney (632), Athens (482), Beijing (436) and Atlanta (425)
Wikipedia has listed athletes selected for the major nations at the Rio Olympics. This currently is the best public guide to who will be there for the major nations. Note the following information obtained from Wikipedia may change before the Games but is reflective of the likely team sizes.
The Russian Olympic Committee participation is currently subject to an International Olympic Committee review.
Nations at Rio Olympics by Number of Athletes
United States
Rio – 555 athletes in 27 sports (London was 530 athletes in 25 sports)
Brazil
Rio – 465 in 28 sports (London was 258 athletes in 24 sports)
Germany
Rio – 425 athletes in 27 sports (London was 392 athletes in 23 sports)
China
Rio – 416 athletes in 29 sports (London was 396 athletes in 23 sports)
Australia
Rio – 410 athletes in 26 sports (London was 410 athletes in 23 sports)
France
Rio – 404 athletes in 27 sports (London was 330 athletes in 27 sports)
Russia
Rio – 387 athletes in 30 sports* (London was 436 athletes in 24 sports)
* from Russian Olympic Committee website.
Great Britain
Rio – 366 in 25 sports (London was 541 athletes in 26 sports)
Japan
Rio – 331 athletes in 27 sports (London was 294 athletes in 24 sports)
Spain
Rio – 305 athletes in 25 sports (London was 278 athletes in 23 sports)
Netherlands
Rio – 241 athletes in 22 sports (London – 175 athletes in 18 sports)
Poland
Rio – 210 athletes in 23 sports (London – 217 athletes in 22 sports)
South Korea
Rio – 205 athletes in 24 sports (London – 248 athletes in 22 sports)
New Zealand
Rio – 199 athletes in 20 sports (London was 184 athletes in 16 sports)
The United States, China and Russia have generally been in the top three nations on the medal table. At the 2012 Olympics, the host nation Great Britain replaced Russia in the top by coming third. This may change if Russia is not allowed to compete and the battle for third may be between Germany, Great Britain, France and Australia. Japan is likely to improve in the lead up to it hosting the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The number of athletes and sports does not necessarily translate into the positions on the medal table. For instance, Australia has 124 athletes in nine teams which means these athletes can only contribute to nine medals on the medal table. Nations that do well on the medal table have many event medallists spread across many sports. For Australia to move up the medal table at the Rio Games, it needs more medallists including several from sports that did not produce a medal at the 2012 Olympics; sports like archery, boxing, equestrian, golf, modern pentathlon, rugby sevens and taekwondo.
New Zealand is expected to have a successful Games due to the outstanding form of their rowers and cyclists and the inclusion of rugby sevens and golf.
The information listed above is subject to withdrawals or late allocation of places.
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