Posted on 04/24/2006 5:46:44 AM PDT by familyop
BERLIN - Nuremberg Lord Mayor Dr. Ulrich Maly is hoping for a miracle to solve the big embarrassment awaiting him in a month and a half.
On June 11, at 6 p.m., the first game of the Iranian national team in the World Cup will get under way. Nuremberg's stadium is situated just dozens of meters from the first Nazi marching square and the enormous conference hall built for Hitler. The huge structure, which was never completed, is used today as historical testimony to the Nazi era.
The arrival of Iran's soccer team would not be causing such a stir, would it not be for the Holocaust denials of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his plans to arrive at the city in order to cheer on his team.
In the halls of government in Berlin, officials believe that the Iranian president will not arrive in the end. Therefore, they do not see a point in comply with a call by the Wiesenthal Center to declare Ahmadinejad as persona non grata.
"Ahmadinejad won't be our guest and he is not wanted among us," Maly told Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel's leading newspaper.
"From the minute FIFA decided not to boycott Iran in the world cup, the arrival of the Iranians turned into a problem for the German government. We would prefer that other teams play here. I don't plan to prevent demonstrations against Ahmadinejad and against his intolerable statements on the Holocaust and the destruction of the State of Israel," he said.
The mayor added: "I thought that an initiative would be undertaken to boycott him. If he repeats his declarations while he is here, the German government will be obligated to declare him persona non grata."
Nuremberg is also bracing for demonstrations in support of the Iranian president. Neo-Nazis have said they plan to hold support marches around the city.
"We will do everything to prevent that," promises Maly. "There is a good chance we'll succeed because Nuremberg is a symbolic city for the neo-Nazis."
Jewish-German author Ralph Giordano, a Holocaust survivor, demanded that Ahmadinejad be prevented from arriving. "For a person who denies the Holocaust and wants to destroy Israel, there is nothing to look for here," he said.
Go, Burgomeister Meisterburger!
Hey, I've got a rather novel idea.
Why not just disinvite the Iranian team?
Yeah, yeah I know. Not fair to the true sportsmen, etc but to all this I say bullshi*.
If these assholes spoil our soccer event we are at war.
ping for placemark ands later updates.
A simple, and brilliant idea!
I say invite the Iranian delegation, then sit them between the US and Israeli delegation. I'd pay to see that.
Certainly that's in the press.
spiegel, welt, financial times germany and others are frequently writing about the issue iran / world championships.
Topics are :
The announced visit of Ape Boy
The prevention of terror
The prevention of security for the players
I reckon it's gonna get a talk show high light - terror and fear are the very air journalists are breathing. I think they can't overdo it because their advertisement customers and the fifa will give them hell if they caused headless panic. So moderate panic it will be.
Thanks for the inside perspective. I appreciate it. I also laughed at your remark about the "war" if it disrupts the soccer matches.
I think doesn't fit into the idea of football -
I am just looking forward for the moment right after the stadium speaker announced the presence of the iranian president.
What do you think the audience will tell him ?
Let's make a contest for the best anti ahmed chants !
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