1.
GV EXTERIOR Police Academy in Cairo.
0.03

2.
CU PULL BACK TO SV Israeli competitors and Egyptian Foreign Minister Kamal Hassan Ali. (2 SHOTS)
0.15

3.
SV PULL BACK TO GV Kamal Hassan Ali speaking to official.
0.22

4.
SVs Australia, United States and Palestinian teams parading in opening ceremony. (3 SHOTS)
0.46

5.
GV Israeli team talking to officials.
0.51

6.
SV PAN Egyptian team parading.
0.54

7.
SV Israeli team leaving stadium.
1.00

8.
SV Israeli team member speaking. (English SOT)
1.47


TRANSCRIPT: REPORTER: (SEQ 8) "Why are you leaving?



ISRAELI TEAM MEMBER: "We have a problem all the time. Three times we have the problem. We come for championship, we are invited officially, we have membership, but when we come to compete, we have a problem. I don't know why. If there is a problem of political, is political, not sport. This Japanese man is practising political only."



REPORTER: "I saw the Palestinian team there. Is that why you're leaving, or is there another....?"



ISRAELI: "No, it's not my problem. I don't practice politics. I come here to practice sport only. Palestinians, Egypt, all is alright for us. Only politics from Japan, only Japan, only Japanese men organise here like that."





Initials CC/JRS



SPORT: KARATE

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The Israeli team was barred from the Fourth World Amateur Karate Championship, which opened at the Police Academy arena in Cairo, on November 21. The ban was made after officials from the International Karate Federation said there was doubt the team's credentials. About forty countries were participating in the two-day tournament. Competitors were welcomed by Egyptian Foreign Minister Kamal Hassan Ali. Among the teams was one comprised of Palestinian players. They took part with other team members in the opening parade. Officials said the Karate Federation's international committee based its decision to ban the Israeli team on technicalities, such as arrears in membership fees. But an Israeli team member said he didn't know why the decision was taken. He said the problem was a political one and sport should be kept out of politics. Asked whether the presence of a Palestinian team had something to do with the decision, he said the Tokyo-based Karate Federation was responsible for bringing politics into the tournament and not the Israelis.