GYMNASTICS / WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS : Milestone: South Africa Gets OK to Compete

South Africa will return to international athletic competition for the first time in 21 years this weekend at the World Gymnastics Championships in Indianapolis, officials announced late Wednesday night.

In a two-hour meeting, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), the governing body for the sport, decided to allow South African gymnasts to compete in the World Championships, which begin Saturday. It will be the first time South Africa will compete in the World Championships since 1966.

South Africa was banned from the Olympics in 1970 because of its long-standing policy of apartheid, or racial separation. In July, the country was readmitted as a member of the International Olympic Committee, making its athletes eligible to compete in the 1992 Olympics. However, each individual governing body must also admit South Africa before it can compete in that sport.

Five South African gymnasts--two men and three women--have been allowed to practice in official training sessions here, but were awaiting a decision on their participation. Because there are only five gymnasts, they will not compete as a team but as individuals representing South Africa.

Since the World Championships serve as a qualifying meet for the 1992 Olympic gymnastics competition, the FIG believed South Africa deserved the opportunity for its gymnasts to qualify, according to a spokesperson for the federation.