IOC President Thomas Bach welcomed a delegation from the São Tomé and Príncipe National Olympic Committee ©IOC

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach welcomed a delegation from the São Tomé and Príncipe National Olympic Committee (NOC) to discuss sport in the country.

The visiting delegation consisted of NOC President João Manuel Da Costa Alegre Afonso, secretary general Laureana Lima Ferreira Soares and the country's Minister of Youth, Sport and Business, Vinicius Xavier de Pina. 

They discussed sport in São Tomé and Príncipe and Olympic Solidarity programmes, which look to assist NOC's in need. 

Athlete preparations for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo were also on the agenda. 

Buly Triste represented São Tomé and Príncipe at the Rio 2016 in canoe sprint ©Getty Images
Buly Triste represented São Tomé and Príncipe at the Rio 2016 in canoe sprint ©Getty Images

São Tomé and Príncipe, an African island nation close to the equator, have competed at six Summer Olympic Games, making their debut at Atlanta 1996. 

They sent three athletes to Rio 2016, with Romário Leitão and Celma Bonfim da Graça participating in athletics and Buly Triste in canoe sprint. 

The country are yet to win an Olympic medal.