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IRO on Tour...

...my name is Martin Hofmann. I am 29 years old and a qualified hotel manager. During the last years I have travelled a lot based on my profession. I spent the last year “at the other end of the world”, in Australia and New Zealand, where I gained a lot of valuable experience. I had the opportunity to get in contact with many different types of people and cultures. Their hospitality, the liberal mindedness and the warmth I received from these people have extremely inspired me and as a consequence I would like to realize the following project:

Germany-Tour to welcome the soccer fans from all over the world

I am going to tour Germany during the course of the World Cup. For that special purpose I have bought a 37-year-old Ford Transit, a former fire engine, which I have restored in many hours of labour over the last few weeks. On the outside of the bright red fire engine the flags of the 32 participating countries have been fixed (with artificial lawn edging) and added to that a lot of information which makes the heart of a soccer fan beat faster. On the roof of the fire engine there is – instead of a ladder – a huge black-red-golden “ “Iroquois”. Naturally also the interior of the bus has been adapted accordingly. To put if briefly:

From front to back a real eye-catcher – the World-Cup Fan Bus.

It is my personal goal to welcome the fans from all over the world by means of a colourful, unusual contribution to this major event by this non-profit-activity. 

International understanding, a peaceful kind of togetherness as well as the fascination of soccer are motivation for me to push this project and to put it into realization.

As I also feel inspired by the media campaign “You are Germany”, I would like to show the entire world, that Germany – distanced from all clichés – stands for enthusiasm, a sense of humour, spontaneity, emotions, warmth and hospitality. Therefore, many people will be able to experience and live the motto “Visitors from all over the whole world being welcomed by friends”.

 “The Golden World Cup Book Germany 2006 “

On my way through Germany I will meet fans from all around the globe.  I will ask all of them to write down their wishes, concerns and greetings in their individual languages in this oversized book, the “Golden World Cup Book Germany 2006”. I would hereby like to emphasize the point that the enjoyment of soccer brings together many people. Parallel to that there will be a digital visitors’ book on the website www.wm-fanbus.de, by which the fans get the chance to write down their online contributions. The book - enhanced by digital input – could be auctioned for charity purposes following the Word Cup as a “Worldwide Soccer Fan Creation” or handed over to the FIFA Organisation Committee for other purposes.

It is my goal to have it positioned in the considered Soccer World Cup Museum.

 The time schedule is as follows: I will start my tour on Wednesday, 7^th June and then visit all 12 match locations as well as the 32 World Cup quarters.

I am absolutely convinced that I am about to implement an original, well-considered colourful fan-project. Above all I would like to point out once again that there is absolutely no commercial purpose which I am following with this project

As the success of this project also depends on getting a large number of  people excited by this idea as well as getting them motivated to participate, I would like to ask you for your kind support. If you wish, I could also present my project to you personally and I am always available for further questions.

I would much appreciate your positive reply, also per e-mail and remain,

with sportive fan greetings from East Bavaria

with best wishes,

 Martin Hofmann