Sport connects cultures and brings them together: as the World Cup host in 2006 Germany experienced the uniting power of football, and an emotionally exciting tournament. Now, during the World Cup in South Africa (11 June to 11 July), the German Embassy in Pretoria and the Goethe-Institut in Johannesburg are linking up with this experience to stage the German Weeks. Whilst football fans from around the globe gather in South Africa and 32 teams compete for the prestigious trophy, the German Embassy and the Goethe-Institut will be staging a cultural programme under the heading “Football Meets Culture”. Together with partners they are organizing a variety of cultural events in Johannesburg. The German Weeks include exhibitions, theatre performances, readings and music. In Berlin, Africa Days will be tuning into the atmosphere in the week before the World Cup kicks off. Under the sponsorship of the Federal Foreign Office’s Aktion Afrika programme the week will include an exhibition of African art at the Nationalgalerie, a film festival and a fashion show with creations by African designers. In addition to this the House of World Cultures will be staging a cultural programme on South Africa. The Federal Foreign Office is showing the exhibition “african arenas” with photographs by Thomas Hoeffgen from April 29 to June 2. Parallel to the World Cup visitors can find out more about sports promotion by the Federal Foreign Office.
www.germany-southafrica-football.diplo.de
