South Africa at the 1992 Summer Olympics South Africa at the 1992 Summer Olympics South Africa competed at the Summer Olympic Games for the first time since 1960 at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. South Africa was permitted to re-join the Olympic Movement after its citizens voted to abolish apartheid. 93 competitors, 68 men and 25 women, took part in 87 events in 19 sports. The flag was carried at the opening ceremony by marathon runner Jan Tau. In South Africa's debut appearance in Olympic archery, the nation was represented by two archers. Neither advanced past the ranking round. Five cyclists, four men and one
Olympic Games in the opening ceremony. Though the flame has been an Olympic symbol since 1928, the torch relay was only introduced at the 1936 Summer Games to promote the Third Reich. The Olympic mascot, an animal or human figure representing the cultural heritage of the host country, was introduced in 1968. It has played an important part of the Games' identity promotion since the 1980 Summer Olympics, when the Russian bear cub Misha reached international stardom. The mascot of the Summer Olympics in London was named Wenlock after the town of Much Wenlock in Shropshire. Much Wenlock still hosts the Wenlock