Dortmund plans Caribbean party
18 May 2006
by FIFAworldcup.com
The FIFA World Cupâ„¢ will get under way in Dortmund with a night to remember at the city's Westfalenhallen where leading acts from Trinidad and Tobago will bring a flavour of the Caribbean to this corner of Germany.
On 9 June, the night before first-time finalists T&T take on Sweden at the Westfalenstadion, musicians from the tiny island state will have the chance to put their country into the spotlight. A four-hour show packed with pulsating rhythms has been planned, promising a real carnival atmosphere for the thousands of football fans visiting the city.
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The event will take place at Westfalenhalle 1 and will start with a FIFA World Cup opening ceremony involving 32 local children, each carrying the flag of one of the participating nations. The Germany v Costa Rica match will be broadcast on a giant screen and once over, the Caribbean Night will commence.
More than 100 stars from Trinidad and Tobago will be there, including limbo dancers (who will have to pass under a pole no higher than a Coca-Cola bottle), incredible costumes and some of the country's most famous music acts.
These include Len 'Boogsie' Sharpe, who has served as his country's official cultural ambassador, and Junia Regrello, one of T&T's top carnival music stars. If you like Caribbean rhythms, the sound of the steel drum and are looking for some fun, then Dortmund is the place to be on 9 June.
This will be the only Caribbean Night taking place in Germany and has been planned in conjunction with representatives from the official Trinidad and Tobago tourist board. Organisers hope to attract a large crowd of football fans, doubtless preparing to cheer their team hoarse the next day. "This is our first World Cup," explained Jason Baptiste, marketing manager for the Trinidad and Tobago Tourism Development Company, "and the enthusiasm back home is incredible. Seven thousand fans will be coming over to Dortmund."
The Caribbean Night and Opening Party will mark the start of a four-week programme of events at the Westfalenhallen. Throughout the finals, Halls 1 to 3A will host concerts, plays and other events, while Halls 4 to 8 will offer accommodation to travelling fans.
The Africa Festival on 18 June and the live concert with Brazilian superstar Ivete Sangalo on 1 July will add to the international flavour of events at the Westfalenhallen during the finals.
