South Africa close to return to Olympics
South Africa moved another step closer to regaining international acceptance in sports after more than three decades on the sidelines yesterday, when the International Olympic Committee's executive board conditionally recognized the country's interim, desegregated Olympic committee.
Judge Keba Mbaye, an IOC vice president from Senegal, expressed optimism that South Africa will meet conditions required to receive full recognition as the IOC's 168th member by July, enabling it to send athletes to the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, and perhaps the 1992 Winter Games in Albertville, France.
"I am personally convinced that the conditions will be met in time to see South Africa at Barcelona and even at Albertville for next year's Winter Games," he said at a news conference during the IOC's executive board meeting in Barcelona.
The board will meet again tomorrow with officials from international sports federations to begin coordinating South Africa's return to pre-Olympic competitions. Mbaye said it is "very probable" that South Africa will return to international competition at track and field's World Championships, Aug. 24-Sept. 1, in Tokyo.
College basketball
Oral Roberts University, which abandoned the National Collegiate Athletic Association two years ago when the school was going through a financial crisis, is lining up a basketball schedule that would help it get back into the NCAA.
Ken Trickey, the athletic director and basketball coach, says the Titans have tentatively scheduled 17 games against NCAA Division I teams. A 27-game schedule against Division I teams is one of the requirements Oral Roberts will have to meet to switch back to the NCAA. Trickey said he sees no problems getting 10 more NCAA opponents.
Soccer
Maryland Bays forwards Jean Harbor and Chris Reif have been named to a 16-man American Professional Soccer League All-Star team that will meet Northern Ireland soccer power Linfield F.C. in an exhibition match April 27 at the University of Tennessee.
U.S. National team captain Peter Vermes, a forward, also will play for the APSL All-Stars. Vermes is a member of the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the APSL.
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