German Travel Advisory: Steelpans not welcome

(image copyright Georgia Popplewell)
One good thing about sporting events with Trinis in attendance – there’s always going to be an amazing atmosphere. Whether the crowd is of uniformed young people at Intercol and Secondary Schools’ Football League matches or seasoned limers at one-day cricket internationals, there is sure to be drama and excitment.
And music – be it the sweet sounds of steelpan, the blare of ”brass” (as horns are called) or the driving beat of the bass drum.
That Carnival atmosphere may well be missing from the Warriors’ matches in Germany this summer.
FIFA and the Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup 2006 have advised that patrons bearing ‘iron made instruments’ may not be allowed into the stadia.
Why? Well, because iron is ‘heavy’ and ‘can be used as a weapon.’
Fair(ish) point. Although, on the grounds of ‘potential for violence’ shouldn’t England fans be banned en masse from attending any international football games, anywhere, forever?
The Trinidad Express has more.
[...] I’ve already blogged about the likely ban on steel pan (and attendant riddim sections) at World Cup matches. [...]
Posted from
United States
There point is understandable,But pans or no pans when trini decide to strike up a rhythmn there is litle you can do to stop them.We will always find a way to make we bacchanal.
Posted from
Japan
[...] Only Jumbieno will be representing T&T culture in Germany – No steelpan. No local artistes or performers. The Government’s stance is hopelessly noncommittal: “We as a government have been doing a lot of preliminary work…we have done some ground work…Government itself intends to send its cultural troupe…” More at the Trinidad Express. [...]
Posted from
United States
[...] The pan is familiar, to the avid reader of this blog, to your everyday Trinibagonian and to FIFA officials in Germany, who are trying to ban the instrument from the World Cup stadia. [...]
Posted from
United States
[...] You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. Leave aReply [...]
Posted from
United States
[...] Back in March I blogged about the potential ban on steelpans in German stadia this summer. Alas, it seems that our national instrument definitely won’t be allowed in. [...]
Posted from
United States
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World







[...] Smi reports that FIFA has ruled that “patrons bearing ‘iron made instruments’ may not be allowed into the stadia” for the World Cup 2006, on the grounds that “iron is ‘heavy’ and ‘can be used as a weapon.’” Which means that fans of Trinidad and Tobago’s football team may have to do without their traditional rhythm sections and steel pans. “Fair(ish) point,” says Smi, “Although, on the grounds of ‘potential for violence’ shouldn’t England fans be banned en masse from attending any international football games, anywhere, forever?” [...]
Posted from
United States