The success saga of the game is escalating. We at Ancient Olympic Games piled up updated least little information of Olympic Games. Here, we will provide you the data of the countries participated or will participate in the Games. There has always been a controversy regarding the number of countries participated in the ancient Olympic Games. According to International Olympic Committee, 14 countries (NATIONS-NOCS) participated in the 1896 Athens Olympics. While some other reported that only nine countries participated in the first Olympic Games held at Athens. Whatever, may be the number at the beginning, it has been added up in the recent times.
It is recorded that only three countries have competed at every modern summer Olympics and they are: Australia, Greece and Great Britain. France is also sometimes added on this list.
There are 201 NOCs recognized by the IOC but, only 200 are qualified to partake in the Olympics. The IOC has taken Afghanistan out from the game in October 1999. It was because since the Taliban forces took over the country in 1996.
| Year | Countries | Year | Countries |
| 1896 | 13 | 1948 | 59 |
| 1900 | 19 | 1952 | 69 |
| 1904 | 12 | 1956 | 57 |
| 1906 | 20 | 1960 | 83 |
| 1908 | 22 | 1964 | 93 |
| 1912 | 28 | 1968 | 112 |
| 1916 | 0 | 1972 | 122 |
| 1920 | 29 | 1976 | 88 |
| 1924 | 44 | 1980 | 81 |
| 1928 | 46 | 1984 | 140 |
| 1932 | 37 | 1988 | 159 |
| 1936 | 49 | 1992 | 169 |
| 1940 | Not Held | 1996 | 197 |
| 1944 | Not Held | 2000 | More Than 200 |
In the Beijing Summer Olympic 2008, 204 countries have participated. Brunei was also included and was supposed to be the 205th nation but was debarred because not any of its athletes checked in by the closing date. The two country China and the United States have the largest teams, with 639 and 596 competitors correspondingly.