---
kind: "section"
citation: "36 U.S.C. § 220512"
title: "36"
title_heading: "Patriotic and National Observances, Ceremonies, and Organizations"
number: "220512"
heading: "Complete teams"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/36/220512"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Patriotic and National Organizations"
  - "Part B — Organizations"
  - "Chapter 2205 — United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee"
  - "Subchapter I — Corporation"
---

# §220512. Complete teams


In obtaining representation for the United States in each competition and event of the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Pan-American Games, and Parapan American Games, the [corporation](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-7), either directly or by delegation to the appropriate [national governing body](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-9), may select, but is not obligated to select (even if not selecting will result in an incomplete team for an event), athletes who have not met the eligibility standard of the [national governing body](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-9) and the [corporation](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-7) when the number of athletes who have met the eligibility standards of such entities is insufficient to fill the roster for an event.


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 105–277, div. C, title I, § 142(k)(1), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–606; amended Pub. L. 109–284, § 5(19), Sept. 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 1212; Pub. L. 116–189, §§ 4(a)(8), 7(a)(2)(A)(ii), Oct. 30, 2020, 134 Stat. 945, 956.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2020—Pub. L. 116–189 substituted “Pan-American Games, and Parapan American Games” for “and Pan-American Games” and struck out “or paralympic sports organization” after “appropriate national governing body”.

2006—Pub. L. 109–284 substituted “and the corporation” for “and the Corporation”.