East and West Germans to Have One Team

East and West German sports officials have agreed to compete as one team under a single flag in the 1996 Olympics--and perhaps as soon as the ’92 Games at Barcelona.

Willi Daume, president of the West German National Olympic Committee, said: “A joint team could be very strong, but that also means that perhaps only 50% of athletes would have a chance among those who otherwise would have been in Barcelona.”

West German officials Monday were reacting to statements over the weekend by leading East German sports officials.

Werner Neumann, spokesman for the interim leadership of the East German sports federation, predicted “something quite spectacular” for the 1992 Olympics. “There will be two German teams, but they will march in under one flag.”

Jochen Gruenwald, acting head of the country’s sports federation, said over the weekend: “We are certain to have a joint team at the 1996 Olympic Games.”