[2] Although sports in the Portugal-controlled region already had a long history, Macau first began to participate in international tournaments under a separate name following approval to do so by the Olympic Committee of Portugal in 1974.

Wong Tung Ieong (Chinese: 黃東陽) won the first medal in a large-scale tournament by taking bronze in the nanquan event which took part of wushu's inclusion at the 1990 Asian Games, In October 1994, Macau's government established the Awards Committee for Premier Sporting Competitions (Portuguese: Regulamento dos Prémios do Desporto de Alta Competição, Chinese: 高度競爭體育獎勵規章) which grants prizes and awards for distinguished achievement in competitive sports for athletes and coaches from Macau.

[2] Additionally, during the 22nd General Assembly of Olympic Council of Asia in Kuwait on January 24, 2003, Macau was approved as the host city of 2007 Asian Indoor Games.

After the establishment of Association of the Portuguese Speaking Olympic Committees (ACOLOP) on June 8, 2005, Macau was chosen as the host city of the 2006 Lusofonia Games.

This request has been complicated by the fact that the IOC revised its Charter in 1996 to only admit new NOCs that represent independent states recognised by the international community.