Upper Volta at the 1972 Summer Olympics but boycotted it with other Africa nations. By the time it returned to the Games in 1988, the nation was known as Burkina Faso. The first athlete from Upper Volta to compete in the Olympics was Taka Gangua, who along with Chadian Taki N'Dio, competed in the men's javelin throw as part of the French delegation to the 1924 Summer Games in Paris. French Upper Volta then formed part of French West Africa, a federation of eight French colonial territories. Upper Volta competed under that name for the first and only time at the Summer Olympics in the 1972 Games
Lake Volta with completion in 1965. Because of the formation of Lake Volta, about 78,000 people were relocated to new towns and villages, along with 200,000 animals belonging to them. About 120 buildings were destroyed, not including small residences, as over of territory were flooded. The Akosombo Dam provides electricity for much of the country, as well as for export to Togo, Benin, and nearby countries, to earn foreign exchange value. Lake Volta is also important for transportation, providing a waterway for both ferries and cargo watercraft. Since the huge lake lies in a tropical area, the water remains warm year-round naturally.