(15 Jul 2006)
Shandur Pass, Pakistan ,Northern Areas , 7-9 July 2006
1. Wide top view from top of the Lowari Pass,
2. Car on the road
3. Various of tents where visitors to the polo festival stay
4. Pull out from snow on mountain tops to Polo ground
5. Various of polo match between Chitral 'A' team and Gilgit 'A' team
6. British Ambassador Sir Mark Lyall Grant watching match
7. Various of polo match
8. Crowd clapping
9. Spectators beat a drum
10. Foreign tourist s watching the match
11. SOUNDBITE: (English) James Dound, British tourist "(The match was) End to end, you just couldn't take your eyes off the game itself. I'd just like to thank the people of Pakistan, the president and all the local people for the wonderful organisation of things. The crowd atmosphere is sensational, the Chitrali supporters, the Gilgit supporters cheering on their teams. Oh, I wish I could come back here next year as well because it is a superb event."
12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jonathan Hancock, British tourist "Yeah, it has been a thoroughly thoroughly enjoyable program here the last couple of days in probably some of the most stunning scenery I have ever seen in my life. It has been a fascinating experience."
13. President Gen. Pervez Musharraf shaking hand with polo players
14. Musharraf joins in victory dance with winning players to sound of traditional music
15. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gen. Pervez Musharraf, President of Pakistan "We would like to encourage tourism, we would like to encourage more of you coming here every year and it is you who are going to spread the beauty of this place to other people. I would like to thank also especially the excellencies, the ambassadors, the high commissioners with their families who are here. Please come again and please be a part of this wonderful tournament every year. This game of polo is unique to this area."
16. Various day/night shots of traditional musicians and folk dancers
17. Wide of polo match being played
LEADIN
High in the mountains that cover the northern part of Pakistan, a spectacular sporting festival takes place.
The sport is polo, the so-called 'Game of Kings', but this equestrian sport is not played in the sedate style it is by the wealthy in the West.
It's a high speed, high drama horseback battle.
STORYLINE:
Passion for Polo at the highest Polo ground in the world, located in the Shandur Pass, northern Pakistan.
The rugged north contains many of the world's tallest mountains. The dirt roads snake through mountain passes over 10,000 feet (3000 metres) high.
The tournament is held on Shandur Pass, the highest polo ground in the world at 3,700 meters.
The festival will also include folk music and dancing, and a camping village is set up.
With matches spread over three days, and with breath-taking views, the festival is proving to be a hit with tourists from all over the world.
The arch-rival teams of Gilgit and Chitral fight for the main trophy in the tournament, and Pakistan's president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf is on hand to join in the celebrations.
The highlight of the festival is the final match between the Gilgit and Chitral teams.
In the clean mountain air, horses and riders are tested to their limits in fierce matches watched thousands of spectators.
Polo is an equestrian sport with its origin embedded in Central Asia dating back to 6th century BC.
At first it was a training game for cavalry units for the King's guards or other elite troops, to the war like tribesmen who played polo with as many as 100 players to a side, it was a miniature battle.
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