1.
AERIAL VIEW - ISA TOWN.
0.08

2.
AERIAL VIEW - STADIUM.
0.17

3.
LV BUILDINGS OF NEW CITY.
0.20

4.
GV TRAVEL SHOT PAST BUILDINGS TO LV MOSQUE AT END OF MAIN STREET.
0.27

5.
GV 'PIAZZA' WITH MOSQUE IN BACKGROUND.
0.30

6.
LV MOSQUE.
0.32

7.
GV 'BEFLAG' SERVICE STATION - PAN TO WIDE STREET.
0.40

8.
GV ANOTHER STREET SCENE.
0.41

9.
SV MOUNTED OUTRIDERS ESCORT SHEIKH'S CAR TO STADIUM.
0.51

10.
SV PAN: SHEIKH SEATED WITH IMPORTANT GUESTS.
1.02

11.
MV SHEIKH READS SPEECH.
1.08

12.
SV OTHER GUESTS LISTEN.
1.10

13.
SLV SHEIKH SPEAKS.
1.13

14.
SLV GIRLS HOLD BALLOONS.
1.16

15.
MV PAN: RUNNER WITH OLYMPIC-STYLE TORCH RUNS ALONG TRACK.
1.23

16.
SV GIRLS RELEASE BALLOONS.
1.24

17.
GV BALLOONS AIRBORNE.
1.31

18.
HIGH ANGLE GV CARS ALONG ROAD OF NEW TOWN.
1.37



Initials TS/VS/JF/PF



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: AMID SCENES OF GAY PAGEANTRY, SHEIKH ISA BIN SULMAN AL-KHALIFAH, RULER OF BAHRAIN AND ITS DEPENDENCIES, YESTERDAY FORMALLY OPENED ISA TOWN - ONE OF THE MOST AMBITIOUS TOWN PLANNING PROJECTS YET ATTEMPTED IN THE MIDDLE-EAST. IT HAS TAKEN FIVE YEARS TO REACH THE OPENING STAGE, AND SO FAR HAS COST SIX-AND-A-HALF-MILLION POUNDS STERLING; EVENTUALLY ISA TOWN WILL PROVIDE HOMES AND FACILITIES FOR 35-THOUSAND BAHRAINIS.

THE NEW TOWN IS SITUATED FOUR-AND-A-HALF MILES (7 KMS.) FROM MANAMA, THE CAPITAL OF BAHRAIN. HOUSES AND DESIGNED FOR ALL INCOME GROUPS, AND A UNIQUE FEATURE OF THE TOWN IS THE COMPLETE RANGE OF SERVICES WHICH HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED. THEY INCLUDE POLICE AND FIRE STATIONS, SCHOOLS, MOSQUES, CLINICS, A SPORTS STADIUM AND A TRAFFIC-FREE SHOPPING CENTRE. THE COST OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES IS BEING BORNE BY SHEIKH ISA, AFTER WHOM THE TOWN HAS BEEN NAMED. HE ALSO DONATED THE LAND FOR BUILDING.

SHEIKH ISA WAS LOUDLY CLAPPED AND CHEERED AS HE DROVE TO THE TOWN'S STADIUM IN A SCARLET LIMOUSINE SURROUNDED BY LANCERS MOUNTED ON ARAB THOROUGHBRED HORSES. THE STADIUM WAS PACKED TO ITS 12-THOUSAND CAPACITY WHEN THE RULER TOOK HIS PLACE IN THE GRANDSTAND, WITH THE BRITISH POLITICAL RESIDENT, SIR STEWART CRAWFORD, ON HIS RIGHT. GUEST OF HONOUR FROM THROUGHOUT THE ARAB WORLD WERE SEATED AROUND THE SHEIKH.

IN A SHORT SPEECH, SHEIKH ISA DECLARED THE TOWN OPEN AND PRESENTED ITS FIRST INHABITANT WITH A GOLD AND SILVER KEY. THEN, THE LAST RUNNER OF A RELAY TEAM WHICH HAD CARRIED A TORCH 16 MILES (16 KMS.) FROM NEIGHBOURING MUHARRAQ ISLAND, ENTERED THE STADIUM, AND AFTER MAKING A COMPLETE CIRCUIT LIT A FLAME WHICH WILL BURN THROUGHOUT THREE DAYS OF FESTIVITIES.