ICTP Director Miguel Virasoro and Massimo Altarelli, head of the ICTP synchrotron radiation theory group and chief executive officer and science director of Elettra (Trieste's synchrotron radiation source), were among those in attendance in Amman, Jordan, when it was officially announced that Jordan will be the new home for the BESSY 1 synchrotron. The facility is currently located in Berlin, Germany. BESSY 1 is to serve as the cornerstone of the SESAME project, an international initiative designed to promote scientific cooperation in the Middle East. The meeting was attended by the King of Jordan Abdullah II and the Director General of UNESCO Koichiro Matsuura. In addition to agreeing to host the site, the Jordanian government has pledged US$1 million a year for 5 years to help defray a portion of the facility's operating costs. The ICTP has spearheaded a drive to provide training for scientists and engineers from the Middle East who will conduct research and maintain the machine once it is moved. In addition to the Centre's own contribution of US$25,000, ICTP has received a US$50,000 grant from the Italian government and a US$65,000 grant from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to help cover the costs of these activities. The Centre's initial training activities will take place in Amman and Trieste this fall. As part of ICTP's larger SESAME-related training efforts, eight European synchrotron laboratories have also agreed to host and grant fellowships to young scientists and engineers from the Middle East. For additional information about ICTP's role in the SESAME project, see www.ictp.it.