Why do the Faroe Islands and Macau have a Paralympic team but not an Olympic team?

Answer 1

Because they were not recognised before the change of rules of recognition. In the past it was sufficient to declare the will of having a team at OG and to create National Olympic Commitee. Puerto Rico, Aruba, Bermuda etc are not countries but they can have their team.

I`m not sure about Macao, but Faroes made the bid to be recognised in old system - Denmark said NO!!

Now Denmark changed it`s mind but there is new rule - country at the Olympics has to be officially recognised as a country (state) by UN. It`s of course impossible with Faroes, they are part of Denmark.

I heard that they are trying to fight for their right to party:). They say that it is a legal case, they made a bid to be in Olympic family in the old system, so now their bid should be accepted basing on old rules. I don`t know if they have any chances. Maybe IOC is affraid that it will open the gate for all others: Greenland, Gibraltar, Kosovo, Reunion, Western Sahara, Tahiti, New Caledonia, French Guyana, Guadelupe, Martinique.

As to Macao it`s part of China, so they said NO.