1.
GV EXTERIOR Assembly building, Pioneers' president Jean Pierre Gombet arrives (2 shots)
0.15

2.
GV Young Pioneers carrying flags march onto parade ground
0.19

3.
SV & CU Senior Pioneer watches young people marching
0.19

4.
CU Jean Pierre Gombet (right) sits catching groups
0.37

5.
CU & SV Foreign Ambassadors watching (2 shots)
0.45

6.
SV & TV Pioneers lined up in front of reviewing dais (3 shots)
0.58

7.
CU Youngsters give individual salutes of their homelands (6 shots)
1.14

8.
GV Flags of nations under portrait of Congolese President Joachim Yhombi Opango
1.20



Initials BB/0130



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Two international youth groups containing more than 400 young people -- have started a month long rally in the Congo Peoples' Republic. The youngsters will take part in artistic and cultural activities in the Republic's capital of Brazzaville.

SYNOPSIS: The opening ceremony took place outside the National Assembly building. It was presided over by the president of the Congo Republic's Young Pioneers movement, Jean Pierre Gombet.

The ceremony began with a flag-carrying parade by the younger participants, one group of whom is being supervised by Air Africa. Most of those attending are children of company workers in twelve Northern and Central African nations. The remaining 95 are members of the Young Pioneers movement in many different countries.

Watching the opening ceremony were foreign ambassadors from the countries represented in the rally.

After a month in Brazzaville, the youngsters will holiday briefly at Point Noire 550 kilometres (300 miles) away on the Atlantic coast, then visit other tourist sites in the Republic.

The international flavour of the opening ceremony was emphasised when these youngsters gave the individual salutes of their homelands.

Then their countries' flags were raised under a portrait of Congolese President, Joachim Yhombi Opango.