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NOT LETTER PERFECT

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Although the IOC’s three-letter abbreviations are intended to make identifying nations easier, there are nearly 200 countries, protectorates and commonwealths in the Olympics, causing havoc.

A Cambodian (CAM) wrestler was introduced as being from Cameroon (CMR), and a Belgian (BEL) was identified as being from Belarus (BLR). Badminton had Indonesia (INA) and India (IND).

Among the most common mix-ups: South Korea (KOR) and Saudi Arabia (KSA), Israel (ISR) and Iceland (ISL), Liberia (LBR) and Libya (LBA), and Niger (NIG) and Nigeria (NGR).

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