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　　Germans plan World Cup charm offensive
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　　Germans plan World Cup charm offensive

　　Transforming the traditional, frosty reserve of Germans into a hot-blooded welcome is one of the biggest challenges facing the hosts of the 2006 World Cup finals, a top German official said on Monday.

　　However, soccer fans will have to survive at the 64 matches to be played at the showpiece tournament without the country's most famous export -- German beer.

　　"Germans are not exactly famous for their humour or their friendliness," Wolfgang Niersbach, vice-president of Germany's 2006 organising committee, told the foreign press association (VAP) in Berlin.

　　"We're doing all we can to change that cold image," he added. "We saw the cordiality of the Italians in 1990 and the enthusiasm of the Mexicans in 1986. We'd like to do that here, make the tournament a celebration. It is more than just a game."

　　Despite lacking spontaneity, Germans are renowned for their attention to detail and there appear to be no problems at all in overall preparation for the finals.

　　Construction on the 12 venues is on schedule, high-tech ticket distribution is set for February 1 and 35,000 hotels in Germany have promised organisers their rates will not be hiked.

　　"Whether we'll succeed in all this will be decided by the one million visitors from abroad after it's all over," Niersbach said.

　　"When I throw a party, it doesn't make sense for me to say it was great. Guests will decide that.

　　"We're getting the message to cab drivers, airport officials and everyone that the World Cup won't just take place in the German stadiums," he added. "It's everywhere."

　　What will definitely be missing in the World Cup stadiums, however, is German beer.

　　A U.S. beermaker is one of the tournament's 15 sponsors and Niersbach confirmed local media reports that American beer -- and not the world-famous German variety -- will be on sale.

　　"I love German beer," he said. "But Anheuser-Busch is a sponsor and we have to respect and accept that. No German breweries were able to pay $40 million for that. But in town, outside the stadiums, there will be plenty of German beer."

　　Organisers expect their biggest headache when tickets go on sale in February, Niersbach added. Demand is likely to outstrip by far supply for matches in the 12 stadiums -- nine of which are soccer-only venues.

　　"We just won't be able to come close to satisfying the demand," he said of the 3.2 million tickets to be sold. "There just won't be enough tickets. It's one problem we can't solve."

　　摘要：德国人历来给人一种严谨有余、热情不足的印象。为了一改传统，德国世界杯组委会目前正在积极筹划一项"魅力攻势"，希望借此在世界杯期间将德国人好客的一面展示给世人。

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