after a 36-year absence is a virtual certainty after this week's election victory by the African National Congress, Games boss George Heller told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

"All Nelson Mandela has to do now is pick up the phone and call the Commonwealth secretary-general in London, and South Africa's participation will be confirmed,'' Heller said. "At the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Cyprus last October it was decided to allow South Africa back into the Commonwealth if the April elections were free and fair. Now that's happened. And that's fantastic news -- something we've been hoping for two years.'' The deadline for countries to confirm participation in the Games passed on February 18, but Commonwealth officials made an exception for South Africa.

The South Africans were included in Games plans, and now need only to confirm they will come.

"We knew they couldn't tell us February 18 because the election hadn't been held yet. But we have included them in our planning. Now only about two buttons have to be pressed, and they're in.'' Heller said that space has already been reserved for the South African team in the athletes' village in Victoria. Between 120 and 150 athletes are expected.

"If it's plus or minus that number, it doesn't matter,'' Heller said.

"There are so many first class South African athletes that the pundits who have already prepared lists of probable gold and silver medal winners will have to hold all bets in abeyance now.'' Heller visited South Africa in December and quickly gained the impression that "massive, cataclysmic change'' was sweeping the country.

"Despite the regrettable violence, I felt this election could not be derailed, it was too big, too important, it was almost written in the stars,'' he said. "The masses of people were behind it. It was almost like the Berlin Wall coming down.'' Heller said there are several "giants of the 20th century'' and he considers Mandela to be one of them. So it would be a coup for Games organisers should Mandela come to Victoria as South Africa's new president.

"If Nelson Mandela comes to the Games in Victoria, I'll carry him up the stairs of the stadium myself,'' said Heller, who plans to visit South Africa next month to complete arrangements for South Africa's first visit to the Games since the 1958 competition in Cardiff.

South Africa is considered one of the world's top 10 powers in track and field, and might also make an impact at the Games in boxing, swimming and cycling.