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
Flag of the Austral Islands Flag of the Austral Islands The Flag of the Austral Islands is the flag of the Austral Islands of French Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean administered by France. The flag has a ratio of 2:3 and is divided into three vertical stripes: red, white and red, with the proportions 1:3:1. In the white central stripe is a blue emblem surrounded by five stars representing the five high islands that constitute the Austral Islands: Rurutu, Tubuai, Rimatara, Rivavae and Rapa. The central emblem represents a stylized "penu", a rock or piece of carved coral used to crush food or medicines, and