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- WORLD, Page 63World NotesSOUTH AFRICACulling the Springboks
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- As the national teams' emblem, the springbok holds a place of
- respect in the record books. But as a symbol of apartheid, this
- graceful African gazelle became an endangered species on the
- world's playing fields because of boycotts by sports
- organizations. Now that South Africa is allowed to play again,
- the sporting springbok is threatened anew.
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- The African National Congress last week endorsed the South
- African National Olympic Committee's decision to replace the
- leaping springbok with a neutral flag featuring Olympic rings
- on a background of silver, blue, brown and green. But President
- F.W. de Klerk charged that the committee was "abusing sport and
- culture for political ends."
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- It will not be the end of the springbok, however. South
- African national rugby and cricket teams are unlikely ever to
- be called anything else. South African cricketers played last
- week in India on their first tour abroad in 27 years. They were
- mobbed by Indian fans shouting "Welcome, Springboks!"
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