World Cup hosts tackle image problem

BERLIN, March 7 (Reuters) Germany aims to sell itself as a modern, vibrant democracy through its hosting of the World Cup, yet fears an invasion of foreign fans obsessed with Nazi-era images.

Dutch replica German World War Two army helmets, albeit in orange, and English T-shirts showing British wartime leader Winston Churchill are not quite what the hosts intended when they launched their campaign ''Germany, Land of Ideas'', hailing the nation as a breeding ground for composers, poets, philosophers and inventors.

The campaign is in fact aimed more at potential investors than the average football fan, but Germans also want to show they are not just the masters of organisation. The message is that they can party too.

''Germany certainly has established itself when it comes to precision and punctuality. We also need to show we are fun-loving hosts,'' said an official at the ''Land of Ideas'' campaign.

A charm offensive, launched by the federal government and tourism groups in December, will seek to encourage fine service with competitions to find, for example, Germany's friendliest taxi driver.

A study into Germany's image commissioned by the government among 11 countries two years ago showed most foreigners thought of Germans as serious and hard-working. Fewer connected Germany with the words ''happy'' or ''welcoming''.

MINISTER UNPERTURBED Quite how welcoming they will be to those in England T-shirts boasting ''Two World Wars and one World Cup'' is unclear, although Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said recently he was unperturbed by the ribbing the hosts can expect.

''We are looking forward to getting a dose of our neighbours' sense of humour,'' he said.

''I remember too they have a saying: Football is a game between two teams of 11 men, with Germany always winning at the end,'' he added, echoing a famous line from former England striker Gary Lineker.

''What we do want is a colourful, fun and exciting festival.'' Other people, however, have demonstrated a little frustration with their neighbours' antiquated stereotypes. England and the Netherlands are expected to bring large numbers of fans to Germany in June, with the England contingent likely to number 100,000.

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