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
Culture of the Cook Islands use of incantations and charms or "purepure" (see witchcraft) was passed down through the generations. Tales of the supernatural and spirits is common practice in the islands by people of all generations and are used to explain many of the more unusual events. "Tupapaku" is woven into discussions on social relationships, proprietary rights, and historical events. Spirit shelters exist in the islands, typically made by children who weave them out of plantain stems. The missionary, John Williams, was instrumental in the conversion of Cook Islanders to Christianity. He brought two Tahitian missionaries to Aitutaki in 1821 who converted the island's