The other round ball game

A Berlin Cricket Club player trains on with a smile as the German football team drives past in the team bus. Photo: al

Without question all eyes are focussed on this afternoon's Argentina vs Germany football game at the olympic stadium in Berlin. However, a cricket ball's throw away from the venue, Berlin's cricketers will be slogging it out just as fiercely at one of the olympic stadium's outer sports fields.

Although records indicate that it was played earlier, cricket was first officially organised and played in Berlin after the second world war by the occupying British soldiers. Since then, what used to be the military section of Berlin's olympic sports complex has been specially reserved for the capital's small band of cricketers.

Over the years Berlin's cricket league has developed into a six team affair with places for the national championship always hotly contested at the end of the season. Nationally the game is gathering momentum too. A German team is set to play in the European Cricket Division 2 Championships in Scotland in August in preparation for next year's 'other' World Cup - the Cricket World Cup taking place in the Caribbean. al

Germans flying the flag

It has been a long time coming but it seems that the World Cup has finally given Germans the courage they need to proudly fly their flag.

With Germany successful in the opening round - each day more and more Germans are investing in a flag for their balconies or car. Germany's larger migrant groups have also been very prevalent in their displaying of the German flag.

But it hasn't always been like that. Since its official adoption in post second world war Germany, the German flag's public showing has often been an issue - mainly due to its strong association with Germany's right-wing extremist groups. It's no surprise then that, in order to show impartiality, Berlin's police and council have opted to remain flagless throughout the Cup - a stance that has been harshly criticised in the Berlin media and from various sides of parliament.

The first instance of the current flag being used dates back to the turn of the last century, in the Weimar Republic. Since then it has only been banned once - ironically, by the National Socialists in 1933. al