World Cup Blog | Bruce Crumley The Cup's Rough Edges subscribe to TIME Printable Version email this story Bruce Crumley: Read all his blog entries

Posted Sunday, June 25, 2006; 20.55BST
The fine-tuned organization of Germany's World Cup has produced a marvellously choreographed event, and a gratifying sports spectacle. But as in any show, the performers

Previous Entries July 7, 2006 Assessing The Legacy Of Domenec   July 6, 2006 The Runners-Up Final Is Really No Consolation   June 28, 2006 For Fans, Now Comes The Hard Bit   June 27, 2006 All About The Swiss Misses   June 26, 2006 Reading Between The Lines Of The Freebie Press   June 26, 2006 Little (Irritating) Things That Make The World Cup Go Round   June 25, 2006 The Cup's Rough Edges   June 22, 2006 Chilled Out In Dortmund   June 19, 2006 Living It Up In Leipzig   June 18, 2006 Why No Joie de Vivre?   June 16, 2006 Taking Advantage of Poor Refereeing   June 15, 2006 Feeling Let Down By The Giants Of Football   June 14, 2006 Reasons To Be Cheerful for Germany's Win   June 10, 2006 How To Win The Good Conduct Medal   June 9, 2006 Deutschland 2006 Turns Up The Heat

get back-stage glimpses at rough edges and oddities carefully hidden away from the watching crowd. Officials travelling with participating teams have offered Time a few.

• Fully revamped and modernized, Berlin's Olympic stadium was initially built for the 1936 Games in what Hitler expected to be a showcase of Germany's athletic and racial superiority. Despite its dark origins, the stadium is considered a historical landmark — meaning architects had to work around 70 year old design in bringing up to 21st century standards.
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• It didn't always quite work. "Just after the tunnel leading to the field, there is this huge staircase that has at least 80, pretty steep steps," says an official with one leading team. "That's not something players are thrilled about attacking before a game — but afterwards! You actually see players so tired that they take as long as possible to go back down that thing!"
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• Berlin isn't the only stadium with curious infrastructure. In Frankfurt, the tunnel from the underground locker rooms exits the field by a trap door opening from the ground in the area just behind the team benches. "During the games, it's forbidden to open the stupid thing, so if a player or staffer needs to get to the locker room they have to exit at the corner of the field and take the long route," the official says.
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• Though teams aren't too big on the trap door set up, they have made suggestions for putting it to good use. The official explains: "They say the fourth referee should have to sit on it during the game. If he doesn't correct the mistakes his colleague makes on the pitch — ping! — you spring the trap door and send him flying."
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• And this being Germany, absolutely everyone involved has to be duly accredited and sporting ID. Even four-footed staff. When entering empty stadiums for training sessions, teams have noticed security patrols sweeping the area for explosives with sniffer dogs — a personalized accreditation hanging from each and every furry neck.

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