The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognized South Sudan as its 206th member on Sunday, meaning the nation will be able to compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

South Sudan has never competed in an Olympics games before.

The decision was made at an IOC meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and means that at least four South Sudanese athletes, two men and two women, may travel to the Rio Olympics under the South Sudanese flag.

The four athletes could include 16 year old runner Margrat Rumat Hasan and marathoner Guor Maker, reported AFP news Agency. Guor ran in the 2012 London games under the Olympic flag because South Sudan was not yet recognized by the IOC and he declined to run for Sudan.

Maker, who placed 47th in London and trains in Kenya, said the IOC's decision to recognize South Sudan is "very emotional." "This moment is so special for me and my country, and it will be next year when I walk into the stadium in Rio behind our own flag," he told AP news agency.

"We can bring unity and the sport we have initiated across the country can unite all 64 tribes and all 10 states" he added, speaking to AFP.

The president of South Sudan's National Olympic Committee Wilson Deng Kuoirot said in Kuala Lumpur that Olympic participation will be a "great vehicle for promoting peace-building."

IOC president Thomas Bach wished South Sudan's sports programs a "very bright future." "We will stand by your side," he said.

The recognition may result in the IOC supporting South Sudan's Olympic program financially. Most international donors have cut off development assistance to South Sudan's government because of human rights abuses committed during the ongoing civil war.

It is not clear if the IOC's support will go directly to the Ministry of Culture, to the National Olympic Committee, to independent sporting federations in South Sudan, or directly to the country's athletes.

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