created: 18.05.2006
last modified: 18.05.2006
For many people the Footbal Mekka of the Ruhr area is Gelsenkirchen. It has over 70 Football clubs and one of them is Schalke 04, the Bundesliga team that was able to win seven league titles. And the city in the heart of the Ruhrgebiet has a lot more to offer than just the game of 22…Being one of the main places of the coal exploitation in the past, the working class spirit of Gelsenkirchen has formed the local's attitude towards football. For them, the sport on the green has become a way of life, yet more than that - a religion. The FIFA World Cup 2006 Germany™ is going to be more than at home in Gelsenkirchen.
The stadium
This home couldn't have any better living room than the "Arena auf Schalke". A capacity of almost 45,000 seats guarantees a thrilling atmosphere and the European Football Association UEFA has granted the stadium five stars thus classifying it in the highest category possible. Indeed the "Arena auf Schalke" is the most modern stadium in Europe, featuring a removable playing surface, an impressive video cube and a retractable roof. The German Red Cross has taken care of all necessary preparations to provide sufficient medical care in the stadium.
Hotel Booking and Diabetes Tips
Gelsenkirchen has many hotels in all price ranges. If you haven't booked your hotel yet, it's high time. The easiest way to do so is by using this link provided by the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ Accommodation Services (WCAS):
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/d/accommodation/index.html
When booking your hotel you should inquire whether the hotel has its own doctor and if that is not the case, the reception desk should be able to tell you where the nearest doctor and pharmacy are.
A list of diabetologists located in Gelsenkirchen can be found here:
Useful signs and terms related to diabetes are listed on this site:
What else can I do with my time?
Gelsenkirchen has changed from a coal mining town to a modern solar industry centre with multi-cultural places and more green environment than would expect in a former industrial city. "Schloss Horst" is a beautifully restored palace of the renaissance period and the industrial park offers interesting insights in the history of coal mining in this area. If your interests are more directed towards the future, then the solar exhibition at the science park might be something for you. The "Musiktheater im Revier" (MiR) offers anything from musical to opera and ballet and nowhere in Europe are there more theatres and museums in such a concentrated area than in the Ruhr valley between Hamm and Duisburg.
For more information please go to: www.gelsenkirchen.de/English/tourism/default.asp
