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S. Africa enjoys fresh gold rush
ABUJA, Nigeria -- South Africa enjoyed another gold rush as the All Africa Games got under way with about 6,000 athletes from 53 countries competing in the 22-sport event that ends on October 18. Dewald Laubscher was outstanding in the men's individual gymnastics, becoming the first person to take home the gold medal from three consecutive Games. And compatriot Joy Kerry Arwen came out on top in the women's event. Laubscher also triumphed in Zimbabwe in 1995 and on home soil four years later, but Sunday's effort could not lift his nation past Algeria in the team competition. South Africa settled for silver and Egypt earned bronze. South Africa also made a splash in the swimming pool where winners included Lauren Roets who took gold in the 100-meter freestyle in 56.79 seconds --missing the tournament record by two-hundredths of a second. And fourteen-year-old Bianca Meyer won the 400-meter individual medley in five minutes 03.06 seconds. There had been a spectacular opening ceremony. but away from the action some competitors are worried the games could be marred by violent protests in Africa's most-populous nation. On Saturday, a group of blue-collar Nigerian labor unions warned it would launch a general strike on Thursday unless the government rescinds recent fuel price hikes in the oil-rich West African country. Union leaders warned Nigerians to stock up on food and fuel, as a strike could paralyze the nation. In June and July, unions held a 10-day, often-violent general strike to protest against a previous 50 percent price hike. The action ended only after President Olusegun Obasanjo's government agreed to lower prices.
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