Football News - Kirch, Screens and Discounts
Kirch Media Falls
Kirch Media, the German company that owns the TV rights to the 2002 and 2006 World Cups was declared insolvent April 8 with debts estimated at US$5.7 billion, but the World Cup rights were transferred to its to a fully-owned, Swiss-based subsidiary KirchSport before the ruling, thus protecting the rights, valued at US$1.7 billion, from the German bankruptcy courts.
"It means we will be able to ensure that all broadcast operations regarding 2002 will take place as planned," Andreas Herren, a FIFA spokesman told the press.The future is not so bright for Germany's Bundesliga clubs who relied heavily on Kirch's money or for some 4,000 Kirch employees who face being laid off. The collapse of the Kirch media empire follows hard on the heels of the demise of ITV Digital – the UK pay for view broadcaster and news that ITV is struggling to find a major sponsor for its terrestrial World Cup coverage.
Seoul
to Change Name of Stadium
It seems that the Seoul metropolitan government has bowed to pressure
from the media and will change the name of Seoul stadium in Sangam-dong
from ‘Seoul Worldcup Stadium' to ‘Seoul World Cup Stadium'.
Photo by Cheong-won Kim, Korea Times
Final Round Ticket Sales
JAWOC, the Japan World Cup Organizing Committee, reported that they had
received 583,800 ticket requests for 1.72 m tickets in the third and final
round of ticket applications for the 100,000 tickets expected returned
unsold from overseas. 40% of the total requests were for Japan's
group games, with England v Sweden in Saitama receiving 7% of the requests,
more than the final itself. Tickets for this game are being advertised
on the black market for around US$2,000.
Tickets from some national associations are also finding their way to
Japan in suspicious circumstances. The Italian FA has reported offered
300 tickets at the official price to a supporters group based in Sendai,
where the team will be based and 400 tickets originating from the Tunisian
FA are being offered on the Internet by a group of Tunisian residents
and Japanese fans. Tickets have also purportedly been offered to the local
governments of Hiratsuka and Shimizu, where the Nigerian and Russian teams
are based, by men claiming to be agents of the national team.
Hiddink Optimistic
South Korea's Dutch coach Guus Hiddink believes his team is improving fast following their recent short tour of Europe and North Africa where they drew 0-0 with Tunisia and Turkey and beat Finland 2-0. "With the home crowd giving us an advantage, I think we can be more optimistic than we were," he said.
Matches
to be Shown Outside Stadia
In good news for ticket-less fans, the plan to show matches on large screens outside the ten stadia of the host cities in Japan has been resurrected. At each of the venues, all of Japan's games will be shown, plus the matches held inside the stadium and one other chosen by the local government. FIFA is allowing the showing of the matches providing the local governments do not benefit financially.
Yokohama Plans Extra Accommodation
Yokohama city plans to utilize indoor sports centers and public buildings as free accommodation for visiting fans left without a hotel room. The move is to deter fans from camping or sleeping outside in the city.
Seoul Street Vendors Protest
On March 28 1,500 protesters wearing red head bands marched in central Seoul to protest a metropolitan government crackdown on street vendors in the city ahead of the World Cup.
No Room at the Inn
Western style accommodations in Niigata are fully booked for the World Cup but traditional style ryokans are reluctant to take up the slack, despite having vacancies. Conservative inn owners are afraid of offering rooms to foreigners citing language and cultural differences.
Skyguards
Plainclothes police officers armed with pistols and truncheons will fly on selected Japanese airlines' domestic and international flights during the World Cup.
KOWOC Goes to Extra Time
The Korea Herald reported that Korea's World Cup Organizing Committee would increase working hours for staff and suspend holidays in the run-up to the Finals. Workers will be in the office on Saturdays and half-days on Sundays.
Emergency Guidelines Not Ready
Japanese contingency plans in case of emergency are still not finalized at its 10 World Cup stadiums. The Health, Labor & Welfare Ministry began putting in place safety procedures only in September of last year with help of the French agency – the Service of Urgent Medical Aid – and has been holding a number of drills at its World Cup venues.
Not Over the Moon
Chung Mong-joon, the FIFA vice president has attacked his boss, President Sepp Blatter, saying Blatter's removal was the only way for the sport to regain its image after months of allegations of financial scandal and vote-rigging. Chung restated his support for Cameroon's Issa Hayatou at next month's election: "I think Issa Hayatou can introduce new leadership to FIFA."
Nakata Finds the Net
Japan star Hidetoshi Nakata will open an Internet café – nakata.net café at Tokyo International forum in Marunouchi to coincide with the World Cup.
Mobile (Cell) Phones
In moves to allow some mobile phones to be used in both Korea and Japan,
Japan's KDDI will enable Korea's SK Telecom users to make calls
in Japan and J-Phone has come to a similar agreement with Korea Telecom's
FreeTel for its mobile phone users.
Rent a cell (mobile)
phone or satellite phone in Germany for World Cup 2006
More Trains
In all JR Tokai will operate 781 extra Shinkansen and local trains during the World Cup. Shinkansen running after midnight will travel at slower speeds to cut down noise. The Yamanote, Chuo, Sobu, Joban, Keihin Tohoku and Yokohama lines will all run late into the night on certain days.
More Fans
The French, Senegalese, Chinese and Turkish football teams will receive some extra support during their World Cup matches in Seoul. Seoul City is recruiting 1,000 people for each of these teams as 'cheering squads', officially known as "Seoul Citizens Supporters".
No North for South
In a move not designed to prevent an attack on the World Cup by North Korea, no players from that country are to be considered to play in the South Korean team. Chung Mong-joon, South Korea's football supremo, said none of the North's players would 'strengthen our national team'. Which nation he was referring to is not clear. The North Korean team recently won a tournament held in Thailand.
More Discounts
The Japanese Construction & Transport Ministry planned discount fares may include a fixed ¥6,300 airfare for domestic flights for foreign visitors and a ¥20,000 five-day pass that visiting fans can use on all local trains and unreserved seats on expresses. A ¥6,000 yen five-day Tokyo pass is in the pipeline for trains in the city and to and from Yokohama and Narita airport.
Turfed Out?
The heavily criticized turf at Saitama stadium – the venue for England's opening match versus Sweden - may be relaid before the World Cup.
Oakenfold No Show
Paul Oakenfold will not now be playing in Japan this summer as advertised. There is a South East Asia tour being planned for later in the year instead.