German city readying for TT

A work group headed by the Rotenburg municipality has recently stepped up preparations to welcome fans also from Trinidad and Tobago.

The TT team has selected the five-starhotel Landhaus Wachtelhof in Rotenburg as their main base for the World Cup.

Aware that the Soca Warriors will be one of the attractions of the tournament, there is an attempt to lure as many fans as possible. So negotiations are underway with hotel owners in Rotenburg and the surrounding areas to provide rooms at reasonable prices for visiting fans.

An effort is also being made for students and young fans to stay with local families free of charge.

Prices have been negotiated with bus companies to transport TT fans from Rotenburg to the cities where the team will be playing the group matches against Sweden, England and Paraguay. These plans featured in discussions between members of the TT contingent which visited Roterburg in December for the World Cup draw.

Return tickets to Dortmund, Nurmberg and Kaiserslautern will cost 12, 26 and 26 euros respectively. Overall it will be cheaper to stay in Rotenburg than to travel to the cities individually. Several social events like open air parties and trips for sight seeing have been planned. Even for TT fans staying outside of Rotenburg, arrangements are being made for shuttles to transport them to the training sessions.

The people of Rotenburg are determined to make their foreign friends feel comfortable and will do their utmost best to honour the 2006 World Cup Slogan "Die Welt zu Gast bei Freunden".

"We in Rotenburg will do everything possible to be a good host to the team of Trinidad and Tobago, to all world cup fans, no matter if from Trinidad and Tobago, Sweden, or wherever they may hail from. Thus we will make the motto of the football World Cup 2006— the world staying with friends— a living experience. A warm welcome to Rotenburg (Wuemme)! We are looking forward to receiving you," stated Rotenburg Mayor Detlef Eichinger.