Date: 26 June 2011
Originally published in: derwesten.de website (Germany)
Written by: Jürgen Stahl
The hoped-for late summer fairy tale only found a happy ending in the small hours: a cold wet drizzle fell down on Bochum on the best part of Saturday, the first of three “Fan Fests” the regional government in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Participatory events, stars and starlets: with three parties around the leather ball the host cities of Bochum NRW, Mönchengladbach (on Sunday) and Leverkusen (3 July) the interest, as well as the enthusiasm for the women’s football World Cup has to be aroused. The Sports Ministry and its partners have gotten a high caliber program off the ground.
But the opening party fell into the water in Bochum, at least on Saturday afternoon. In steady rain and cool temperatures, only a few visitors stopped by and took action on the court at the Victoria Street – despite the great sports and musical numbers including Bochum’s summer and the girl group ‘Excellent’, which was recently voted the best German student band. “It’s a pity for us the weather cooperates so badly,” lamented the municipal commissioner Thorsten Lumma WC.
Even in the early evening, the place before the stage at St. Mary’s Church filled hesitantly. With “Klee” one of the most popular German bands from Cologne performed for free. Singer Suzie’s Kertgens took sporty and was at least as playful as the football jugglers, with the Bochum “Jungle Queen” Sarah showed some samples of their artistic abilities on the ball (an interview with Sarah coming soon).
The hope that the weather gods would relent at a later hour was not fulfilled. But with Kim Wilde, the Bochum were waterproof. Around 3,000 visitors celebrated a splashy ’80s party. The ingredients delivered the now 50-year-old (and still damn exciting) Kim Wilde, who within 90 minutes all the hits from “Kids in America” on “Cambodia” and “Chequered Love” to “You Keep Me Hangin ‘On” served – accompanied by a live band. Great also covers such as “I’ll stand by you” by Chrissie Hynde.
Now, finally, at 21.30, the rain had stopped. Now at last there was the mood that is worthy of a world championship. Bochum will celebrate more on Sunday. In the Bermuda triangle starts the fan mile. The World Cup may come.
