South Africa was permitted to re-join the Olympic Movement after its citizens voted to abolish apartheid.

The flag consisted of a white field charged with a grey diamond, which represented the country's mineral wealth, three cascading bands of blue, orange, and green, which represented the sea, the land, and agriculture respectively, and the Olympic rings.

The Olympic Committee of South Africa stated that Ludwig van Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" was picked as the team's anthem instead of the national anthem at the time, "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika", at these games to "represent national unity".

[3] During the opening ceremony, the flag was carried by marathon runner Jan Tau.

[4] In South Africa's debut appearance in Olympic archery, the nation was represented by two archers.