SAUDI ARABIA: SOCCER - Bad Nauheim will be welcoming the Saudi Arabian football team for the World Cup

Record ID: 189343

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: SOCCER - Bad Nauheim will be welcoming the Saudi Arabian football team for the World Cup
  • Date: 21st April 2006
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (German) HEAD CHEF WOLFGANG PROST SAYING: "Well there are the famous mezze dishes, which are like antipasti only Arabic, then there is couscous, but then that is more North African. These are things were I am not yet sure where the Saudi Arabians preferences are, especially as they are footballers, who actually have to eat a lot of carbohydrates. So I am not sure what to expect yet, we shall have to reach an agreement on what they can and cannot eat." (SOUNDBITE) (German) HOTEL MANAGER, DOLCE HOTEL, HARALD HOCH SAYING: "We have a thousand square metre spa, which they can use with the 20 metre pool, several saunas, a large fitness room and a beauty spa, where they also have the chance to relax. We have an exquisite restaurant and large rooms with balconies, where they have a lot of peace and quiet. In effect we have everything which can benefit the health and well-being of the team and their luxury, and we also have ideal training conditions for the in the Waldstadion (forest stadium) in bad Nauheim. And obviously all their health concerns will be covered by the sports clinic here in Bad Nauheim, which counts as one of the three best in Europe." RESTAURANT (SOUNDBITE) (German) HOTEL MANAGER, DOLCE HOTEL, HARALD HOCH SAYING: "One of the peculiarities we have to look out for is of course that there is no bible in the room, as is usually the case, but rather the Qur'an, we shall swap all of these, the muslim community in bad Nauheim is helping us with that. And obviously we shall try to cater to all the cultural differences in this way."
  • Embargoed: 6th May 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA2WQ8FQO9UQDOI1DRHQ25ROOK1
  • Story Text: Bad Nauheim near Frankfurt is getting ready to welcome the Saudi Arabian football team for the World Cup. The Dolce Hotel where the team will be staying during the football tournament pride themselves on catering perfectly to their special guests needs. "We have a thousand square metre spa, which they can use with the 20 metre pool, several saunas, a large fitness room and a beauty spa, where they also have the chance to relax. We have an exquisite restaurant and large rooms with balconies, where they have a lot of peace and quiet," the Hotel manager Harald Hoch told Reuters TV recently. "In effect we have everything which can benefit the health and well-being of the team and their luxury, and we also have ideal training conditions for the in the Waldstadion (forest stadium) in bad Nauheim. And obviously all their health concerns will be covered by the sports clinic here in Bad Nauheim, which counts as one of the three best in Europe." The particular needs of the Arab team are of course also being taken into consideration, amongst others that any artwork involving naked women be removed from the rooms, and that Christian icons be replaced.
    "One of the peculiarities we have to look out for is of course that there is no Bible in the room, as is usually the case, but rather the Qur'an, we shall swap all of these, the muslim community in Bad Nauheim is helping us with that," Hoch said. "And obviously we shall try to cater to all the cultural differences in this way."
    So far only the Head Chef Wolfgang Prost is unsure how exactly to cater for his guests. He has been researching traditional dishes, but is still unsure of the Arab guests' tastes.
    "Well there are the famous mezze dishes, which are like antipasti only Arabic, then there is couscous, but then that is more North African. These are things were I am not yet sure where the Saudi Arabians preferences are," Prost said. Plus the head chef is having to weigh up traditional dishes against the kind of foods sporstmen need.
    "They are footballers, who actually have to eat a lot of carbohydrates, so I am not sure what to expect yet, we shall have to reach an agreement on what they can and cannot eat."
    Germany and Saudi Arabia have substantial joint connections, particularly economic ones. German companies' main exports to the kingdom are medical equipment and motor vehicles. In terms of Germany's trading partners in the Arab world, Saudi Arabia is in second place, behind the United Arab Emirates.
    The Saudi Arabians finished their qualifying campaign unbeaten at the head of their group and are drawn to face Spain, Ukraine and Tunisia in Group H at the finals.
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