Samaranch Sees ’92 for South Africa : Olympics: IOC president sounds note of optimism for readmission of country to international sports community at Barcelona.

The President of the International Olympic Committee sounded an optimistic note Thursday about South Africa’s readmission to the Olympic movement, saying he believes the country will be sent an invitation to participate in the 1992 Olympics at Barcelona.

Juan Antonio Samaranch’s statements were stronger than those of an IOC delegation as it was leaving South Africa Wednesday. The delegation announced that South Africa’s Olympic Committee--which was expelled from the IOC in 1970--has gained provisional recognition, but set five conditions for reinstatement and gave the country six months in which to meet the conditions.

Samaranch, who met the IOC group upon its arrival in Geneva, went beyond that, even suggesting that if changes in South Africa aren’t made by the deadline for invitations to Barcelona, the IOC might extend the deadline.

“Invitations will be sent on July 25,” Samaranch said. “I think it is a date when we will be ready to send an invitation to South Africa.”

When asked if the IOC would make an exception to its rules and invite South Africa after the deadline, Samaranch replied, “If it is necessary, yes.”

South Africa has been isolated in sports for more than 30 years because of its policy of apartheid. South Africa last was invited to the Olympics in 1960, when the country sent an all-white contingent.

South Africa’s readmission into international sport is likely because of reforms made and promised by President F.W. de Klerk. De Klerk has asked Parliament to scrap all of South Africa’s apartheid laws by June, when Parliament adjourns.

Among the delegation’s five conditions are abolition of apartheid, unification of sports bodies into non-racial groups and formation of an umbrella sports organization to push for unity.

Keba Mbaye of Senegal, who led the delegation, also said Thursday that the IOC will reach its own definition on the abolition of apartheid. He added this does not necessarily mean the introduction of black voting rights, as some militant black groups have insisted.

“Extension of democracy is absolutely fundamental in principle, and its realization is desirable in principle,” he said. “But . . . it is not for us to go so far as to demand that every woman and every man has the vote.”