There are at least 80 countries at these Olympics that have never won a medal. We take a look at why they still come back, only to finish last in many competitions.
Libya’s flag bearer, El-Gadi Sofyan, leads his delegation during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Gabriel Bouys / AFP / Getty Images)
Monaco’s flag bearer, Angelique Trinquier, leads her delegation during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Monaco has participated in 26 Olympic Games. (Gabriel Bouys / AFP/Getty Images)
Bolivia’s flag bearer, Karen Milenka Torrez Guzman, leads her delegation during the opening ceremony. Bolivia has sent athletes to 17 Games. (Gabriel Bouys / AFP/Getty Images)
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Flag bearer Josateki Naulu leads the Fiji delegation during the opening ceremony. Fiji has been to 15 Olympic Games. (Olivier Morin / AFP/Getty Images)
Military personnel hoist the Nepal national flag during the flag-raising ceremony at the Olympic village in London, two days before the start of the 2012 Games. Nepal has sent delegates to 14 Games. (Saeed Khan / AFP/Getty Images)
Members of the Guatemala Olympic team gather for a group photo at the Athletes’ Village at the Olympic Park in London. Guatemala has sent athletes to the games 13 times. (Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)
Nicaragua’s flag bearer, Osmar Bravo Amador, leads his team during the opening ceremony. Nicaragua has appeared in 10 Olympic Games. (Christophe Simon / AFP/Getty Images)
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A man ties a giant Jordanian flag onto the side of a building in the Olympic Village three days before the start of the London Games. Jordan has appeared at eight Olympic Games. (John MacDougall / AFP/Getty Images)
Flag bearer Davin Sorn leads the Cambodian delegation during the opening ceremony. Cambodia has sent athletes to the Olympics seven times. (Christophe Simon / AFP/Getty Images)
Athletes Mohamed Hassan Mohamed, left, and Zamzam Farah prepare to board an airplane from Mogadishu to London. The Somali athletes prepared for competition in the war-torn country’s training facilities, which still bear bullet holes from conflict. (Mohamed Abdiwahab / AFP/Getty Images)