Baltic Republics Invited for ’92

Five decades after their annexation by the Soviet Union, the Baltic republics of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were welcomed back into the Olympic movement Wednesday and invited to compete in the 1992 Winter and Summer Games.

Having regained their political independence in the wake of last month’s failed coup in the Soviet Union, the republics formally were readmitted as full members of the International Olympic Committee.

The decision, supported by the Soviet National Olympic Committee, was adopted unanimously by the IOC Executive Board.

The board noted that the Baltics are recognized as sovereign and independent states by the international community, including the Soviet Union.

The republics are expected to be represented at the Winter Games at Albertville, France, and Summer Games at Barcelona, Spain.