The tiny Pacific island nation of Tuvalu, among the world's smallest, is set to become a member of the Olympic family, the IOC said.
Tuvalu, population 12,000, will be recommended to the IOC Session as the 205th member later this week in Guatemala City.
The decision was taken during an IOC Executive Board meeting in
Guatemala prior to the session.
The IOC session will also rubber-stamp the membership of
Montenegro, which broke away from Serbia last year and was proposed
for IOC membership in February.
"The decision must be taken by all members," IOC Director of
Communications Giselle Davies told reporters.
Tuvalu, a former British colony composed of nine coral atolls,
gained independence in 1978 and was recognised by the United
Nations in 2000.
Nearby Kiribati, another Pacific Ocean nation, joined the IOC in
2003.
