1.
GV Crowded stadium at opening ceremony
0.05

2.
GV Crowd forming "Buenos Dias" (2 shots)
0.19

3.
GV Flags of nations participating.
0.24

4.
GV Runner enters stadium with Olympic torch (2 shots)
0.43

5.
GV Pigeons released
0.50

6.
GV Runner puts torch into eternal flame, crowd cheering and clapping.
1.00

7.
GV Crowds in stadium for the opening events in the evening.
1.02

8.
LV Women's 100 metres hurdles semi final, won by No. 507.
1.17

9.
GV High jump final event, competitor jumps and knocks bar off
1.23

10.
GV Flags and crowd
1.25

11.
LV Matzdorf of USA over high jump to win event, 2.10 metres
1.31

12.
LV Wedman of Canada does backward flip, no jump
1.36

13.
LV Arbzku of Peru over jump, knocks down bar
1.41

14.
GV Matzdorf fails to clear bar
1.47

15.
SV Result bar showing Matzdorf the winner (2.10 metres)
1.50

16.
SV Winners on rostrum - team-mate deputies for Matzdorf
1.55

17.
CU U.S. athlete takes medal on behalf of team-mate Matzdorf
2.00

18.
SV Wedman of Canada receives medal
2.05

19.
SV Arbzku of Peru receives medal
2.11

20.
GV PAN Competitors in 10,000 metres with Frank Shorter of USA leading
2.14

21.
LV Frank Shorter wins 10,000 metres
2.22

22.
CU Colombian runner who came third embraces Shorter
2.32



Initials BB/0055 CM/AW/BB/0130


SPORT: ATHLETICS

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Thousands of athletes from 31 countries are taking part in the Sixth Pan American Games, which opened on Friday (31 July) in Cali, Colombia with a marathon 4-hour Olympic-style ceremony.

This coverage shows part of the ceremonial, and three events of the first day: the semi-final of the women's 100 metres hurdles, won by Patty Johnson of the U.S.A. who later took the gold medal; then men's high jump, won by U.S. world record holder Tom Matzdorf; and the men's 10,000 metres, won in new Pan American record time by Frank Shorter also of the United States.

SYNOPSIS: Seventy thousand athletics fans crowded the Pascual Guerrero stadium in Cali, Colombia on Friday, when a marathon four-hour ceremony began the Sixth Pan American Games, where 31 nations are competing. One of the most eye-catching sights at the stadium was the section above the main entrance to the field itself. Here young people with coloured flags spelt out words of welcome to visitors.

Following Olympic tradition, part of the ceremonial was the carrying of the Games' flame around the stadium and up to the urn at the southern end.

Also following the practice at the Olympics, hundred of pigeon were released to flutter up and out of the stadium.

Then the thousands in the stadium cheered as the Games' flame was lit, and the long opening ceremony came to an end.

The first event were held the same evening. One of them, the women's hundred metres hurdles, has not previously been run at these games. This semi-final won by Patty Johnson, who later went on to take the gold medal the final for the United States.

U.S.A. were also favourites in high jump event, having won the event at every Pan American Game held so far. That was the story again this time, with world record holder Tom Matzdorf jumping two metres ten centimetres.

This is Wedman of Canada, using backward flip, but its a no-jump at the same height.

Arbzku of Peru also fails. His best jump was two metres, five.

Tom Matzdorf failed to do better than two metres, ten, which is below the Pan American record. But the American was feeling slightly ill.

He went to bed immediately after his event, and his team-mate James Crawford deputised for him on the winner's rostrum. This brought some booing from the crowd.

Wedman of Canada got the silver medal.

And Peruvian Arbzku took the bronze.

The men's 10,000 metres was a runaway victory for Frank Shorter of the United States, who led by more than 100 metres for the final ten laps. His time of 28 minutes 50.8 was a new Panamerican record.

Shorter embraced his Colombian rival Mejia when he came in third. They had jostled during the race. Second was Mexico's Maximo Martinez.