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Big Screens : Large video screens will be set up in the central squares of many German cities to allow ticket less fans to follow the action as it unfolds during this summer's World Cup. Germany is keen to welcome tourists to savor the atmosphere of the World Cup even if they do not hold tickets to all the matches they wish to attend. Watch this space for further details on World Cup 2006 special events. German Hotels Raise Prices : Some German hotels are seeking a profit bonanza by raising their prices for this summer's World Cup finals. The 5 star Hotel Adlon in Berlin in Berlin has reportedly increased room rates from 385 to 750 Euros a night. Some hotels in Frankfurt have quadrupled prices by exploiting a loophole in German law which allows them to charge trade-fair rates. Fans are advised to find accommodation in surrounding towns to the World Cup venues and travel in for the games. World Cup Condoms : Local health authorities in Bavaria have launched a poster campaign in brothels in the southern German state to remind visitors of the local law: men must wear condoms when they visit prostitutes. Prostitution in Germany is legal, but religious and women's groups have voiced fears of an increase in forced prostitution and trafficking during the World Cup, involving in particular, women from Eastern Europe. New Berlin Station Opens: Europe's largest railway station opened today in Berlin. The new station, located not far from the Reichstag and the Chancellery, was eight years in construction and completed at a cost 700m euros. The station links lines in the north and south of Berlin with those in the east and west of the capital. Up to 300,000 people and 1,100 trains a day are expected to use the new five-storey, 46m steel and glass structure, which stands close to where a part of the Berlin Wall used to be. Refs Get A Pay Rise : Fifa announced that referees' salaries for the 2006 World Cup will rise to US$ 40,000, double their salary for World Cup 2002 in Korea and Japan.
France's Nelly Viennot may become the first woman to officiate at a World Cup finals as she was chosen in the preliminary group of 82 assistant referees who began their testing program near Frankfurt this week. Viennot has refereed both French first division and Champions League matches. Ticket Humor: Germans are reacting with something akin to gallows humor as the World Cup approaches. The German national team appear hopeless under the hapless Klinsmann and the difficulty in sourcing tickets is also getting genuine fans down. A reader in Germany sent in this image of a poster. The caption of the poster (right) reads in rough translation: "These tickets are too rare to be used. Lucky ticket holders prefer to display them." German Cops to Work with British Bobbies in both UK and Germany : Prior to the start of the World Cup, German police officers will be in England to help get a feel for possible hooligans. The British Home Office also noted that the the German police will be in full uniform--but will not have "powers of arrest." Similarly, British police will be working in Germany during the June World Cup, but the issue of whether they will be able to make arrests in Germany has yet to be decided." The Government, police and supporters groups are working hard with the German authorities to make the World Cup a trouble-free tournament," said Home Office Minister Paul Goggins.There will also be banning orders as part of a plan to reduce the risk of trouble during the tournament."Football banning orders are one of the key tools we are using in the ongoing fight to keep Germany free from any travelling troublemakers," elaborated Goggins. Thirty-two teams from around the world will play in the tournament. Drawn in Group B, England plays its first match against Paraguay on June 10 in Frankfurt. Germans & Beers : Beer is a very important part of life for many Germans. Germans have the third largest annual consumption of beer per head in Europe, beaten only by the Czech Republic and Ireland.
According to one survey, 78% of Germans consider going to drink beer their favourite leisure activity, and 79% drink beer regularly. 73% of those beer-drinkers prefer draught beer to bottled and half of Germans have a “Liebingslokal”, a favourite place to drink where they know people and feel at home. |
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Last edited by Evan; May 30th, 2006 at 07:00 AM..
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