Cook Islands at the 2008 Summer Olympics events (with the exception of weightlifting, where the first round was the only round) and did not go on to win medals. Pera was the nation's flag bearer at the ceremonies. The Cook Islands are a collection of fifteen islands lying in the South Pacific Ocean that are governed under a single parliamentary entity. Some 10,000 people live in the dependency. The country is in a free association with New Zealand, who handles the nation's external affairs. The Cook Islands became self-governing in 1965. 23 years later, the Cook Islands sent their first delegation to the Olympics at the 1988
History of the Cook Islands in 1862 and 1863. 1888 — Cook Islands are proclaimed a British protectorate and a single federal parliament is established. 1900 — The Cook Islands are ceded to the United Kingdom as British territory, except for Aitutaki which was annexed by the United Kingdom at the same time. 1901 — The boundaries of the Colony of New Zealand are extended by the United Kingdom to include the Cook Islands. 1924 — The All Black "Invincibles" stop in Rarotonga on their way to the United Kingdom and play a friendly match against a scratch Rarotongan team. 1946 — Legislative Council is