1.
GV INT. Members of council at table
0.10

2.
SV PAN Members ditto
0.17

3.
SV, CU Hockey pennants on wall (2 shots)
0.24

4.
SV, CUs members at table(4 shots)
0.45

5.
GV Conference table
0.51



Initials SGM/1545 SGM/1537



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The International Hockey Federation(FIH) at a meeting in Brussels, Belgium Saturday night (17 March), cleared the way for Pakistan to defend the World Cup later this year -- though the Pakistanis will be weakened by a ban on their controversial Olympic Team.

The FIH meeting lifted the temporary suspension of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, imposed in Munich after unruly behaviour by Pakistani players beaten by West Germany in the Olympic final, last year.

But the council suspended players and officials of the Pakistan Olympic squad for periods ranging form six months of life. These suspensions mean that none of the Olympic team -- Pakistan's best players -- will be able to compete in the World Cup tournament in Amsterdam beginning at the end of August.

SYNOPSIS: In Brussels, Saturday night, members of the International Hockey Federation cleared the way for Pakistan to take part in the World Cup competition later this year. The International Federation had suspended the Pakistan Hockey Federation after unruly behaviour by their Olympic Team at Munich last year.

Now, the Pakistani team will be able to defend their World Cup title in the championship which begins in Amsterdam at the end of August. But while the Pakistani team will be allowed to play in the World Cup, the council issued suspensions to individual officials and players involved in the Olympic incident, ranging from six months to life. These suspensions mean that none of the Olympic team -- Pakistan's best players -- can compete in the World Cup matches.