The Winter Olympics are in full swing and keen viewers watch as sportsmen and sportswomen from across the world compete for medals.

Participating countries span across the globe, but this year viewers have spotted one with an unfamiliar name, ROC.

What country is ROC?

Some athletes have been seen competing under the country name ROC, but what country is this?

ROC means the Russian Olympic Committee and consists of the athletes competing from Russia.

What is the Russian Olympic Committee?

Russian athletes are allowed to compete in the Olympics; however, they are not allowed to use the Russian flag, name, or even anthem.

This is because of an international sports ban on Russia due to state-sponsored doping.

In 2019 Russia was handed a year's ban on international sports by the World Anti-Doping Agency after recommendations from its independent compliance review committee.

Through the ROC, Russian athletes are able to compete at the Winter Olympics as neutrals, with no reference to Russia on their uniforms and if a ROC athlete wins a medal the Russian national anthem will not play.

Coverage of the Winter Olympics is available on BBC and Eurosport.