'OAR' Isn't a New Country: Here's the Story Behind the Abbreviation You're Seeing at PyeongChang

Watching the Olympics and keep hearing the OAR but don't know what it means?

Watching the Olympics and keep hearing "OAR," but don't know what it means?

The term refers to Olympic Athletes from Russia, which is the team that formed after the International Olympic Committee banned Russia from the games for a doping scandal. 

There were 169 Russians that were allowed to compete under the OAR team after they were given "special dispensation" after the IOC determined each athlete could be considered clean and doping-free

Those athletes are clean are competing under a neutral flag. According to Olympic Conduct Guidelines, they are not allowed to march under the Russian flag or wear Russia's colors or logos. 

While the IOC did invite the 169 athletes from Russia, the highest sport court dismissed pleas from others in the days leading up to the games.