The country's participation in Rio de Janeiro marked its twelfth appearance at the Summer Olympics since its debut in 1964.

Both athletes participated at the Games through wild card places since they did not meet the required standards to qualify.

[1] The National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Chad (French: Comité Olympique et Sportif Tchadien, COST), selected two athletes using wildcard slots.

[5] The Chadian team at the 2016 Games was announced by a press release from COST General Idriss Dokony Adiker on 6 June.

[6] The team consisted of two track and field athletes at the Games: sprinter Bachir Mahamat and long-distance runner Bibiro Ali Taher, who was selected to carry the nation's flag in the opening ceremony.

[7] While Taher had competed for Chad at a number of international athletics competitions, she was a flight attendant by trade.

The only runner he placed ahead of in his heat was Anas Beshr of Egypt,[10] who had been disqualified for exiting his lane on the track.