Laos at the 2016 Summer Olympics Laos at the 2016 Summer Olympics Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. This was the nation's ninth appearance at the Summer Olympics, having attended all games since 1980 with the exception of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, because of its support of the Soviet boycott. Six athletes, four men and two women, were selected to the Laotian team through universality places and Tripartite Commission invitations across four sports, without having qualified. Apart from athletics and swimming, Laos marked its Olympic
New Zealand at the 1956 Summer Olympics field hockey team from New Zealand made its Olympic debut in Melbourne. Before 1956, the only international hockey team apart from Australia that New Zealand had played against was India. In 1956, New Zealand entered boats in three of the seven events. The competition was for men only; women would first row at the 1976 Summer Olympics. Don Rowlands travelled to the Summer Olympics as a reserve but did not compete. New Zealand at the 1956 Summer Olympics New Zealand at the 1956 Summer Olympics was represented by a team of 53 competitors and 12 officials. Selection of the team