Australasia Olympic Team (1908–1912): Joint Australia and New Zealand Delegation

History of the Australasia Olympic Team (1908–1912): the joint Australia and New Zealand delegation at the 1908 and 1912 Games, their events and results, and the legacy that led to separate teams after WWI

Australasia at the Olympics refers to the combined team of athletes from Australia and New Zealand who competed together at the Summer Games in the early 20th century. The joint delegation took part in two editions of the Olympics, and its participation is an early example of cooperation between the two countries in international sport. The team name is linked historically with the term Australasia.

Olympic appearances

1908 — London, United Kingdom
1912 — Stockholm, Sweden

Competitors from both countries travelled to these Games as a single squad. Their involvement spanned a variety of events and contributed to the growing profile of the Olympic Movement in the Australasian region.

Aftermath and legacy

Following World War I, Australia and New Zealand began to send separate national teams to the Olympics (from 1920 onward). The brief period of a combined Australasia team is still remembered as an important step in the early international sporting history of both nations. The joint entry is sometimes abbreviated ANZ in historical records and summaries.