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MV Crown Prince Hassan lights torch which is carried away by runner to light plinth (3 shots)
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2.
GV PAN Band plays as troops march past carrying flags
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3.
MVs Soldiers in audience watch tug of war (4 shots)
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4.
GVs Troops doing exercises with rifles watched by Crown Prince Hassan (3 shots)
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5.
GVs Troops giving karate demonstration watch by crowd (4 shots)
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Initials BB/1820


SPORT: GENERAL

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: In Jordan, the army has marked King Hussein's silver jubilee with a big sports festival. King Hussein, who's in Iran, couldn't be there, so his place was taken by Crown Prince Hassan.

SYNOPSIS: There was an Olympic-style opening to the festival, with Crown Prince Hassan lighting the torch that was to light the flaming plinth set high over the Hussein Sport City stadium.

The torch lighting ceremony was a signal for all the troops taking part to enter the stadium, and they'd obviously dressed for the heat.

As it was a military festival, there was a strong military flavour to many of the games -- the tug of war, for instance.

Troops representing four Jordanian army brigades, the special forces, and Air Force units took part, watched by Jordanian Premier and Minister of Defence Mudar Badran, a number of cabinet ministers, and heads of foreign diplomatic missions.

A highlight of the festival was a big karate display by units of the crack special forces, who form part of the fighting elite of Jordan's army of 61-thousand men. The festival was the second time in a few months that the military has celebrated King Hussein's accession to the throne -- they've also held a big parade through the streets of Amman.