The International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned South Africa from competing in the upcoming Tokyo Games on 18th August, 1964, after the nation had signalled its intention to send only white athletes to the competition.

South Africa attempted to make concessions - such as proposing to hold team trials abroad or including a token number of black athletes - but these were rejected as insufficient, especially with newly independent African nations and the Soviet Union pushing for a boycott, reflecting the growing international condemnation of apartheid.

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