Under IOC rules, the South Sudan NOC was not eligible for IOC membership until national sports federations had joined both the NOC and the corresponding international federation of five Olympic sports.

[3][4] By 2015, Sudanese federations were recognised in athletics, basketball, association football, handball, judo, table tennis and taekwondo.

[5] After a recommendation by its executive board, the IOC admitted the NOC at its session in Kuala Lumpur by acclamation.

[6][7] As the men's marathon has only one round, Guor Marial was the only South Sudanese athlete to get to the finals.

[8] South Sudan only sent one male and one female athlete to the 2020 Summer Olympics, Abraham Guem and Lucia Moris.