Olympics

International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch ruled out the possibility of Ukraine competing independently at the Summer Games but said he was hopeful the former Soviet republic would join a unified team. On the eve of a crucial meeting with the 12 former Soviet republics at Lausanne, Switzerland, Samaranch said it was too late for Ukraine or others to be accepted as independent entries for the Barcelona Games. Ukrainians had earlier been upset they could not compete under their own flag.