Sunday, June 4 2006

FRANKFURT: German organisers say fans can even hand back World Cup tickets on the day of the matches if they are unable to attend any match due to unforeseen circumstances.

The organising committee is keen to avoid rows of empty seats at the World Cup stadia -- something that frequently happened at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea -- and have set up a ticketing centre to handle late exchanges. "We will take the ticket back and give another fan the chance to watch the match the stadium," said Jens Grittner, a spokesman for the organising committee.

Around 95 percent of the 3.07 million tickets for the month-long finals have already been sold less than a fortnight before the competition kicks off on June 9.

Tickets for the group matches range from 35 to 100 euros (US$42-$120 dollars) while a ticket for the final in Berlin on July 9 costs between 120 and 600 euros ($144-$720 dollars). (AFP)



Contest in honour

of hooligan victim



BERLIN: A football tournament dedicated to Daniel Nivel, the French policeman left brain-damaged in an attack by German hooligans at the 1998 World Cup, will be held this weekend in the eastern German city of Leipzig. Just days before the World Cup kicks off, 180 teams from 12 nations will take part in the Daniel Nivel Cup, which aims to send a strong message against football violence, said Christoph Hansel, the head of the World Cup office in Leipzig.

"It is the right answer to xenophobia. It stands for football, fairplay and friendliness," he said.

Nivel was savagely beaten by German hooligans before the Germany vs Yugoslavia match in Lens, France.

A German with links to the far-right was sentenced to five years in jail for the attack. The tournament is taking place for the fourth time and being played over four days by teams made up of football fans, amateur players, policemen and firemen. (AFP)



Reichstag dome open

‘till early morning hours



BERLIN: The glass dome of the German parliament building, the Reichstag, in Berlin will be open two hours longer, until midnight, from June 3 to July 9 to accommodate World Cup visitors, the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, said.

Though the doors will close at midnight, those who are inside will be allowed to visit the dome, designed by British architect Norman Foster, and the parliament's popular roof terrace with its spectacular views over Berlin until 2 am. The Reichstag opens for visitors at 8 am every day.

(AFP)