It was one of two British Crown colonies who were allowed, by the International Olympic Committee, to compete as independent nations at the Games.

This was one of two British Crown colonies that were permitted to participate independently that year, the other being Malta.

[2] Two athletes from Southern Rhodesia were selected to compete in the 1928 games, both in boxing; Cecil Bissett in the lightweight and Leonard Hall in the welterweight weight division.

Bissett received a bye past the first round on 7 August, while Hall defeated William Walther of Germany on a points decision.

Hall was knocked out of the tournament by Kintaro Usuda of Japan, while Bissett progressed following a victory in his first bout of the games against Carlos Orellana of Mexico.