MUNICH, June 7 - A parade of 109 World Cup-winning players was the highlight
of a glitzy showpiece welcome ceremony for the 56th FIFA Congress in Munich on
Wednesday.
Two days before the opening match of the World Cup finals between hosts
Germany and Costa Rica at the nearby Allianz Arena, the sport's governing body
revelled in the history and traditions of the tournament.
After formal opening speeches by FIFA president Sepp Blatter, Bavarian
Premier Edmund Stoiber and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, a series of
presentations, dance shows and short films, the players took centre stage.
It was the first time so many surviving members of World Cup winning squads
had been invited to such a ceremony by FIFA.
Each man was introduced on stage at the International Congress Centre and
given a small golden replica of the World Cup trophy, a valuable prize for many
of the players who were winners before all squad players were rewarded with
medals.
The oldest player to appear on stage was Alcides Edgardo Ghiggia, who will be
80 in December. He scored the decisive Uruguay goal in a 2-1 win over hosts
Brazil in 1950.
As expected the parade was dominated by Brazilians as they have won the World
Cup five times. Their players on stage included Zito, Gilmar, Rivelino,
Jairzinho and Dunga.
They were joined by a galaxy of former stars from other nations including
England's 1966 centre-half Jack Charlton, West Germany's 1974 winner Rainer
Bonhof, Mario Kempes of the 1978 Argentine side, Pierre Littbarski of West
Germany's 1990 team and France's 1998 winner Emmanuel Petit.
Blatter presented FIFA Order of Merit medals to 13 people, including Japanese
Football Association president Sabura Kawabuchi, USA 1994 World Cup chairman
Alan Rothenberg and former FIFA president Joao Havelange of Brazil, who is now
90.
In his speech, Blatter urged the Congress, which meets to work through an
agenda of reports and proposals on Thursday, to embrace change. "Only through
reform will we stay in form," he quipped.
Stoiber welcomed FIFA'S move towards greater social awareness and the
formation of an ethics and social responsibility committee, while the Chancellor
stressed the importance of football in uniting the world.
She said the World Cup slogan 'time to make friends' was being brought to
life by the German people's hospitality and enthusiasm for an event that will be
seen by billions of television viewers.
The Congress will on Thursday consider amending the FIFA Statutes to add an
Ethics Committee to the two existing judiciary bodies after a proposal, from the
Swiss Football Association, was approved unanimously by a meeting of the
executive committee earlier this week.
