abstract
| - The Dominican Republic (Spanish: República Dominicana, ) is a nation located in the Caribbean region's island of Hispaniola. Part of the Greater Antilles archipelago, Hispaniola lies west of Puerto Rico and east of Cuba and Jamaica. Its western third is the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are occupied by two countries, Saint Martin being the other. The Dominican Republic is the site of the first permanent European settlement in the Americas, its capital Santo Domingo, which was also the first colonial capital in the Americas. It is the site of the first cathedral, university, European-built road, European-built fortress, and more. For most of its independent history, the nation experienced political turmoil and unrest, suffering through many non-representative and tyrannical governments. Since the death of military dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina in 1961, the Dominican Republic has moved toward representative democracy. Dominican Republic first participated at the Olympic Games in 1964. They have appeared in every one of the games since then. The Dominican Republic has never competed at the Winter Olympic Games. Dominican Republic has won two medals since they have entered the games. Pedro Nolasco won a bronze in boxing at the 1984 Summer Olympics and in 2004 Felix Sanchez won a gold in the 400 meter hurdles. They have been represented by Comité Olímpico Dominicano since the beginning.
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