Hanover: A city looking to shake off its boring tag

May 16, 2006, 12:32 GMT

Hanover - The north German city of Hanover has a reputation as one of Germany`s most boring cities where ideal German is spoken but nothing much else happens, apart from perhaps the hosting of Expo 2000 five years ago.

But it will be all action next summer as Bundesliga side Hanover 96`s newly renovated stadium plays host to four group matches and a round of 16 game.

The newly refurbished stadium was completed last January at a cost of 63 million euros (74 million dollars) and hosted its first international game match in summer, the Confederations Cup group game between Mexico and Japan.

It has a 49,000 capacity in the Bundesliga but with the removal of terracing for the World Cup this will be reduced to just under 45,000.

The highlight of Hanover`s year is the most important industrial exhibition in the world, the Hanover Fair, created by the Allied forces following World War II.

Additionally a computer adjunct to this exposition was introduced: the CeBIT, which has become the most relevant showplace for the informational sciences branch in all of Europe.

Year after year, CeBIT, showing the newest innovations on the computer and office equipment scene, attracts some 600,000 visitors to Hanover`s exhibition grounds.

The city is also home to tyre manufacturer Continental, the industrial vehicle branch of Volkswagen and the biscuit and cake maker Bahlsen.

In addition, TUI, Europe`s biggest tour operator, has its main offices in the capital city of Lower Saxony.

At the architectural level, the city lost a great deal of its charm after 85 per cent of its buildings were reduced to rubble during World War II.

Nevertheless, vestiges of the city`s golden age, such as the old city hall and wood-framed houses from the Middle Ages, can still be found in the historical centre of Hanover.

Group games:

June 12: Italy v Ghana 
June 16: Mexico v Angola 
June 20: Costa Rica v Poland 
June 23: Switzerland v South Korea
Round of 16: June 27: WH v RG