Representative organizations of the countries participating in the Olympic Games are the National Olympic Committees (NOCs). Athletes of the country are allowed to participate in the Olympic Games only if the National Olympic Committee of this country is officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee. As of 2016, there are 206 existing NOCs. In addition to the existing NOCs, NOCs of not existing now countries took part in past Olympic Games, for example USSR, as well as teams that for various reasons competed not under the name of the country, for example Independent Participants (ex Yugoslavia). Such teams are named here "Historic NOCs". In addition, three teams not related to a particular country ("Special entries") competed at some Olympic Games: Mixed Team in 1896, 1900, 1904; Independent Olympic Athletes in 2000, 2012, 2016; and Refugee Olympic Team in 2016.