STORYLINE:

Top marathon runners Eluid Kipchoge, Wilson Kipsang and Zersenay Tadese joined Tirunesh Dibaba, Glady Cherono and Edna Kiplagat in the shadow ot the famous Brandenburg Gate to look ahead to the Berlin Marathon in Germany on Friday (14th September).  

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

Two days before there 45th Berlin Marathon takes place in the German capital, some of the favourites for the men's and women's races were invited to the famous Brandenburg Gate to promote the event.

The Berlin marathon has adopted the nickname 'the fastest marathon in the world' on the back of ten world record having been set on the course over the years.

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, the current men's Olympic champion and Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia, the 2008 and 2012 Olympic 10,000 metres champion, will both start as favourites in the men's and women's races.

However, it will not be a stroll for either on Sunday.

While he might carry the favourite's tag with ease, the pressure is on Kipchoge to break a world record that was set in Berlin four years ago by his compatriot Dennis Kimetto at 2 hours 2 minutes and 57 seconds.   

Kipchoge has got as close as 2:03:05.

He has also won his last eight marathons in a run stretching back to Berlin in 2013.

Lining up against Kipchoge will be fellow countrymen Wilson Kipsang, Eliud Kiptanui and Amos Kipruto, plus Abera Kuma of Ethiopia.

Kipsang ran well at Tokyo in 2017, taking first place ahead of compatriots Gideon Kipketer and Dickson Chumba in a time of 2:03:58, but he dropped out of the Berlin run last year.

Kiptanui and Kipruto are experienced campaigners both with personal bests around 2 hours and five minutes.

Kuma has also been on the circuit for several years, though his personal best came just this spring, a 2:05:50 time in Rotterdam.

The women's race is more evenly balanced.

The main threat to Dibaba is likely to come from her fellow Ethiopians Aselefech Mergia and Ruti Aga, and Kenyan pair Gladys Cherono and Edna Kiplagat.  

Cherono won the Berlin marathon for the second time last year and, along with the other prominent names, will be hoping that their greater experience can be brought to bear on Dibaba, who will be competing in only her fifth marathon.   

However, that might just mean that the best of Dibaba is yet to come.

Her personal best of 2:17:56 places her behind only Paula Radcliffe and Mary Keitany on the all-time list.

Hotel Intercontinental and Brandenburg Gate Berlin, Berlin, Germany. 14th September 2018.

1. 00:00 Rio Olympic marathon champion Eluid Kipchoge (right) is greeted by a firend prior to the press conference

2. 00:07 Eluid Kipchoge (left) sitting with Wilson Kipsang (centre) and Zersenay Tadese (right) at the beginning of press conference

3. 00:11 Kipchoge, Kipsang and Tadese walk onto stage

4. 00:17 SOUNDBITE (English): Zersenay Tadese, Eritrea:

"Yes I hope so, because I have prepared well and I will try my best."

5. 00:27 Cutaway camera

6. 00:31 Kipchoge, Kipsang and Tadese in profile

7. 00:36 SOUNDBITE (English): Eluid Kipchoge, Kenya:

"My last race was in London in April and after going back to training, all has been well, up to the last of my training sessions at the beginning of this week and I can assure you that we will have a good race on Sunday..."

(Q: So you're only focused on Berlin, you're not doing any other races?)

"No. Absolutely my full focus is on this race."

8. 01:04 Cutaway camera

9. 01:09 SOUNDBITE (English): Wilson Kipsang, Kenya:

"For me I think my last race was, in which I did very well, was last year in New York, but this year running in New York wasn't well (doesn't fit the schedule), but all true, I've just been training and preparing for Berlin."

10. 01:22 Wide shot of stage

11. 01:29 SOUNDBITE (English): Wilson Kipsang, Kenya:

"I think all has really been going very well. I'm really focusing so much, I think what is left for me is to secure it on Sunday."

12. 01:40 Tadese and Kipchoge in profile

13. 01:45 SOUNDBITE (English): Wilson Kipsang, Kenya:

"If I try to look back to 2013 when I broke the world record, I ran a negative split so that is... basically my plan run under 6130 (one hour, one minute and 30 seconds), which is a world record pace, but run a negative split in the second half (of the race)."

14. 02:02 Wide of press conference.

15. 02:06 SOUNDBITE (English): Eluid Kipchoge, Kenya:

"Its already in the back of my mind... I will try my best to run in Tokyo."

16. 02:15 Wie shot Kipchoge and Kipsang on stage

17. 02:19 SOUNDBITE (English): Eluid Kipchoge, Kenya:

(on his experience of Japanese marathon runners)

"Oh, I met two of them last June when I visited Tokyo and they are preparing very well towards 2020 Olympics."

18. 02:30 Cutaway photographer.

19. 02:35 SOUNDBITE (English): Wilson Kipsang, Kenya:

(on the 2020 Olympics and Japanese marathon runners)

"I think for me 2020 is too far (away at the moment). A lot of things can happen in between, but I am looking forward. By that time that I should still be in top shape that I may qualify and be selected as one of the representatives from Kenya for the 2020 Olympics."

20. 02:57 Cutaway press taking photographs

21. 03:01 Kipchoge, Kipsang and Tadese on stage

22. 03:06 Pan up to Kipchoge, Kipsang and Tadese holding their name tags

23. 03:11 Wide of marathon runners and press

24. 03:18 Kenyan marathon runner Glady Cherono waves to the crowd at Hall of Fame venue in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin

25. 03:22 Close up Cherono

26. 03:25 Cherono holds up her nname tag to the crowd

27. 03:29 Tirunesh Dibaba (Ethiopia) waves to the crowd

28. 03:35 Close up Dibaba

29. 03:38 Dibaba walks to wall of fame to find her name

30. 03:47 Three elite female favourite runners for Berlin Marathon for 2018 on stage together, Tirunesh Dibaba, Glady Cherono and Edna Kiplagat (Kenya)

31. 03:54 Close up Kiplagat

32. 03:59 Wide of Hall of Fame stage

33. 04:02 Kipchoge signs autographs for fans

34. 04:09 Kipsang signs autographs

35. 04:15 Kipchoge and Kipsang in the crowd at Brandenburg Gate

36. 04:20 Tadese waves from Hall of Fame to the crowd

37. 04:26 Kipsang waves to crowd from stage

38. 04:32 Kipsang shows name tag to crowd

39. 04:36 Kipchoge waves to crowd from Hall of Fame stage

40. 04:45 Kipchoge points at his name on wall of fame

41. 04:51 All the athletes at wall of fame together

42. 04:56 Close up Dibaba

43. 04:59 Wide shot of athletes

SOURCE: SNTV

DURATION: 05:18

SHOTLIST

++PLEASE NOTE - AUDIO AS INCOMING ON SHOTS 4 AND 5++

June 7, 2006

1. Wide shot of former Brazilian World Cup champion Pele walking through Pele Station holding football and waving to cameras

2. Round screen showing archive pictures of Pele as a player

3. Pele talking to fans

4. Wide shot of Pele in press conference

5. SOUNDBITE (English): Pele, former Brazilian World Cup champion:

"I think if I have to repeat everything, you know, I will do everything the same. I am very happy with what God has given to me."

6. Screen showing archive pictures of Pele as a player

7. Pan of video wall

8. Top shot of Mini cars with flags on their roofs parked at Berlin fair

9. Close-up of Mini car with German flag on roof, drivers and cars in background

10. SOUNDBITE (German): Kathrin Petersen, spokeswoman of 'Partner Berlin':

"As Berlinizer you can show everybody, to Berliners or their guests, 'We are happy to have you here and to assist you if you need our help'."

11. Drivers standing next to cars waving

12. Various shots of Mini cars driving away

13. Tilt down from Berlin Schoeneberg town hall to arriving 'Mini' cars

14. Cars passing

15. Wide shot of ambassadors near marquee

16. Ambassador of Costa Rica getting into car

17. SOUNDBITE: (English): Esteban Penrod, Ambassador of Costa Rica:

"It feels great because this means integration in the city but for all the people who live here and I'm very glad this initiative is taking place at this moment precisely."

18. Ambassador of Equador holding model of Mini car

19. SOUNDBITE: (English): Horatio Sevilla, Ambassador of Equador:

"Well, I feel proud to be part of this international city, this cosmopolitan city, as Berlin is, and I'm very grateful to the organisers of that event and Ecuador will receive this with great pleasure."

20. Ambassador of Equador driving away in his Mini

21. Wide shot of Reichstag, German Parliament building

22. Close-up of giant poster of Argentinean football player Juan Roman Riquelme, Reichstag building in background

23. Pan of Interior of Adidas arena

24. Row of seats, poster in background shows World Cup trophy and photo of players

Recent

25. Wide shot of Olympiastadium Berlin, giant beach towel printed with England flag is spread on ground

26. People carrying towel

27. Unveiling towel on the stairs under the Olympic fireplace

28. Various of giant towel spread on steps

STORYLINE:

Brazilian football legend Pele visited Berlin on Wednesday to inaugurate an exhibition dedicated to his footballing career, one of several events taking place in the build up to the opening game of World Cup 2006.

The exhibition, PeleStation - the Legend in Action, contains two 40 metre (43 yard) wide projections of images highlighting Pele's remarkable playing career.

PeleStation was opened in a tunnel of a subway station in Berlin.

Pele's popularity cuts across generations and fans came in large numbers to see the Brazilian.

With football fever at a high, Pele turned nostalgic and told the media he was extremely satisfied with the way his career panned out.

PeleStation was designed and created by a Brazilian company with the close cooperation and support of Pele himself.

Meanwhile, the car manufacturer BMW gave 32 Mini cars to the ambassadors of the countries participating in the World Cup, part of the 'Berlinizer' campaign to promote Germany as a friendly host.

The cars will be driven until July 9 by the ambassadors or by people participating in the 'Berlinizer' campaign.

For the ambassadors who live in Berlin, the handover of the cars was a special moment.

The ceremony took pace in the same place that former US President John F Kennedy once said: "Ich bin ein Berliner" (I'm a Berliner).

Marketing company Partner Berlin launched the campaign to encourage Germans to open up to guests and friends.

To become a 'Berlinizer', visitors have to log on to the Internet and answer some questions about Berlin.

Those who answer correctly win a badge marked with "I'm a Berlinizer please ask me for help".

Organisers hope that visitors to the city can approach those wearing the badges to ask for assistance or help.

Also in Berlin, the popular German sports brand Adidas has built a special arena where fans can experience an atmosphere similar to the city's famous Olympia Stadium.

The massive arena, built next to the spectacular Reichstag - the German Parliament building, will have live screenings of all World Cup games.

The English were also getting involved in publicity events in the run up to the tournament.

A British tabloid newspaper arranged for a giant beach towel, emblazoned with England's St. George cross, to be spread across a stand at the

Olympiastadium in Berlin.

The newspaper says the 7,578 square-foot (704-square-metre) towel is the world's largest, though the Guiness Book of World Records is still in the process of verifying this claim.

A team of ten unfurled the towel to send a message of support to the English World Cup squad.

The publicity stunt plays upon a popular British view that stereotypes German tourists as always seeking to reserve sun loungers with their towels before British holidaymakers can reach them.

Keyword-world cup 2006

LEAD IN:

A German-born long distance runner is to represent Palestine in the marathon event at the Rio Olympics.

Mayada Al-Sayad shows off her medals, her trophies and tells us how she feels about her upcoming adventure.

STORY-LINE:

Sandals are put to one side and the running shoes come on.

The sports watch is set so speed and distance can be assessed.

This is Mayada Al-Sayad.

She's a long distance specialist. And while she is not all-conquering in her home country of Germany, her father's Palestinian nationality has enabled her to qualify for this summer's Olympic Games.

And having broken the qualification standard of 2 hours and 42 minutes for the 26.2 mile (42.2 kilometres) race, she will become the first woman to run the event under the Palestinian flag at an Olympic Games.

She has collected a number of medals during her career, and this year travelled to the West Bank and won the Bethlehem half marathon.

But qualification for the Rio de Janeiro games is her primary achievement.

"Last year in Hamburg I reached the world standard for the Olympic games for Palestine, that is under than 2:42. This means I can now go to Rio for Palestine," she says with obvious delight.

Her time in the April 2015 Hamburg marathon was 2:41:44.

She later improved upon that with a personal best at this year's Dubai Marathon with 2:39:48.

Al-Sayad hopes other women of Arab descent will follow in her many footsteps and also wants to be able to show Palestine in a different light.

"We mostly just hear bad news from there," she says, wearing a T-Shirt with "Palestine" emblazoned across the front.

She was born in Berlin to a German mother and Palestinian father and got her Palestinian passport in 2014.

Al-Sayad's trainer Tobias Singer says her single mindedness and lack of nerves will stand her in good stead for the Olympics.

"Nobody runs 250 kilometres in a week without a reason," he says.

Al-Sayad spends time every summer at her family house in Palestine. But now she's driving back to her German home to see her mother, who is understandably proud.

"She is now the first woman who managed to qualify for Palestine. We all find this great and hope it will go well," her mother says.

Considering the small number of athletes expected to represent the territories this summer, there is a decent chance that Al-Sayad will be the flag bearer at the opening ceremony on 5 August.

"This would also be a huge honour for me," she says.

She's not expecting to win the race in Rio, but she's hoping to improve upon the 50th place at the 2015 World Championships in Bejing.

LEAD IN:

A German-born long distance runner is to represent Palestine in the marathon event at the Rio Olympics.

Mayada Al-Sayad shows off her medals, her trophies and tells us how she feels about her upcoming adventure.

STORY-LINE:

Sandals are put to one side and the running shoes come on.

The sports watch is set so speed and distance can be assessed.

This is Mayada Al-Sayad.

She's a long distance specialist. And while she is not all-conquering in her home country of Germany, her father's Palestinian nationality has enabled her to qualify for this summer's Olympic Games.

And having broken the qualification standard of 2 hours and 42 minutes for the 26.2 mile (42.2 kilometres) race, she will become the first woman to run the event under the Palestinian flag at an Olympic Games.

She has collected a number of medals during her career, and this year travelled to the West Bank and won the Bethlehem half marathon.

But qualification for the Rio de Janeiro games is her primary achievement.

"Last year in Hamburg I reached the world standard for the Olympic games for Palestine, that is under than 2:42. This means I can now go to Rio for Palestine," she says with obvious delight.

Her time in the April 2015 Hamburg marathon was 2:41:44.

She later improved upon that with a personal best at this year's Dubai Marathon with 2:39:48.

Al-Sayad hopes other women of Arab descent will follow in her many footsteps and also wants to be able to show Palestine in a different light.

"We mostly just hear bad news from there," she says, wearing a T-Shirt with "Palestine" emblazoned across the front.

She was born in Berlin to a German mother and Palestinian father and got her Palestinian passport in 2014.

Al-Sayad's trainer Tobias Singer says her single mindedness and lack of nerves will stand her in good stead for the Olympics.

"Nobody runs 250 kilometres in a week without a reason," he says.

Al-Sayad spends time every summer at her family house in Palestine. But now she's driving back to her German home to see her mother, who is understandably proud.

"She is now the first woman who managed to qualify for Palestine. We all find this great and hope it will go well," her mother says.

Considering the small number of athletes expected to represent the territories this summer, there is a decent chance that Al-Sayad will be the flag bearer at the opening ceremony on 5 August.

"This would also be a huge honour for me," she says.

She's not expecting to win the race in Rio, but she's hoping to improve upon the 50th place at the 2015 World Championships in Bejing.

AP TELEVISION

Berlin - 11 May 2016

1. Mid of Mayada Al-Sayad putting on her running shoes

2. Al-Sayad putting on her smartwatch

3. Various of Al-Sayad stretching

4. Various of Al-Sayad running

5. Al-Sayad with her medals

6. Close of medals

7. Close of winner's trophy from Bethlehem half marathon

8. SOUNDBITE (German) Mayada Al-Sayad, running marathon for Palestine in Rio:

"Last year in Hamburg I reached the world standard for the Olympic games for Palestine, that is under than 2:42. This means I can now go to Rio for Palestine."

9. Al-Sayad running towards camera

10. SOUNDBITE (German) Mayada Al-Sayad, running Marathon for Palestine in Rio:

"I am trying to show that more Arab women should do sports, because they could do it the same as me - if they really want to and are motivated and train enough. Also I want to show Palestine in good light, because we mostly just hear bad news from there."

11. Wide of Al-Sayad training on track

Berlin - 12 May 2016

12. SOUNDBITE (German) Tobias Singer, Trainer

"Maya does not think much about other runners and the competition around her. She does it primarily for herself and this really helps her, even though she's probably not really aware of it."

Berlin - 11 May 2016

13. Wide of Al-Sayad running on track

Berlin - 12 May 2016

14. SOUNDBITE (German) Tobias Singer, Trainer:

"Nobody runs 250 kilometres in a week without a reason - there is goal behind it: to bring new personal bests and represent Palestine as well as possible."

Berlin - 11 May 2016

15. Wide of Al-Sayad running

16. Close of Al-Sayad driving

17. Wide of Mayada Al-Sayad and her mother

18. SOUNDBITE (German) Anjte Al-Sayad, mother:

"Her father is from Palestine and this small country does not have many athletes. And they only had one athlete that managed international qualification so far. But she is now the first woman who managed to qualify for Palestine. We all find this great and hope it will go well."

19. Close of Al-Sayad's Palestinian passport

20. SOUNDBITE Mayada Al-Sayad (German)

"There is also a small chance that I will be the flag bearer at the opening ceremony of Olympic Games in Rio on 5 August. This would also be a huge honour for me."

21. Close of pictures on her wall

22. Detail of pictures and newspaper article entitled (German) "Thumbs up for Maya"

23. Close of Al-Sayad looking herself in the mirror

24. Wide of her leaving the room

25. Wide of her closing the door to house

26. Wide of her leaving the house

27. Wide pan of her running outside

SHOTLIST:

1. Exterior of brothel "Artemis"

2. Sign "Artemis"

3. Pan interior of pool in "Artemis" brothel

4. Pan brothel lounge

5. Bar with champagne

6. Medium shot couch

7. SOUNDBITE: (German) Eike Wilmans, Artemis spokesman:

"We are looking forward to the World Cup and we are prepared and relaxed. We expect more guests to come and of course we will have more prostitutes working here during World Cup."

8. Pan picture to bed

9. SOUNDBITE (German) Coco, sex worker:

"We are looking forward to the World Cup and we hope that many more men will come here than they do right now. It will be a lot of stress, but that's what we like."

10. Brunhilde Raiser, head of National council of German women's organisation with colleagues

11. Campaign whistles

12. SOUNDBITE: (German) Brunhilde Raiser, head of National council of German women's organisation:

"We want to point out that forced prostitution exists and it is a heavy violation of human rights. We have to fight against it and to stop it if possible. That's why we have very clear demands to politicians and the people in charge, which we have to follow up in detail after the World Cup."

13. Zoom in banner of campaign "stop forced prostitution," pull focus

STORYLINE:

As soccer's best players prepare to square off this summer at the World Cup, businesses across Germany are anticipating a huge windfall with the arrival of an estimated 1 (m) million fans from around the world.

The sex industry is no exception, and just down the street from Berlin's Olympic Stadium, which hosts the final, stands the city's largest brothel.

Artemis, which cost 8.2 (m) million dollars to build was established in September with an eye on capitalising on the influx of World Cup visitors.

The four storey, 40-bedroom bordello is decorated with fake animal prints and velvet on beds, walls and furniture, as well as Greek and Roman statues under North African style arches.

The establishment has been averaging 130 visitors a day, many from the nearby convention centre, and was planning to blitz the Olympic Stadium and Berlin hotels with leaflets during the World Cup.

Eike Wilmans, PR Manager of the "Artemis," said he expected demand to increase during the World Cup.

Prostitution is legal in Germany, with about 400,000 people registered in the trade - the women who work in Artemis pay taxes and receive social benefits like people in any other job.

However, the anticipated World Cup sex-trade boom has raised fears of an increase in forced prostitution - an estimated 40,000 women from poorer Eastern European countries were expected to be heading to Germany for the World Cup, some against their will.

Already, the European Union estimates more than 100,000 women in Europe each year are forced into prostitution.

A Berlin women's group has started an information campaign against forced prostitution to coincide with the World Cup, endorsed by German Soccer Federation President Theo Zwanziger.

Brunhilde Raiser, head of National council of German women's organisation, said forced prostitution was a violation of human rights.

"We have to fight against it and to stop it if possible. That's why we have very clear demands to politicians and the people in charge, which we have to follow up in detail after the World Cup."

Police in Berlin have said they are planning raids to uncover illegal prostitution rings during the World Cup.

SHOTLIST:

1. Pan interior of pool in "Artemis" brothel

2. Pan of entrance hall

3. Pan brothel lounge

4. Bar with champagne

5. Medium shot couch

6. Bar

7. SOUNDBITE: (German) Eike Wilmans, Artemis spokesman:

"We are looking forward to the World Cup and we are prepared and relaxed. We expect more guests to come and of course we will have more prostitutes working here during World Cup. We want to fulfil the guests' wishes and therefore we also offer our guests to watch the play's live here."

8. Zoom out lamp to bed

9. Pan picture to bed

10. SOUNDBITE: (German) Coco, sex worker:

"We are looking forward to the World Cup and we hope that many more men will come here than they do right now. It will be a lot of stress, but that's what we like."

11. Sign: (English) "Artemis"

12. Exterior of brothel "Artemis"

13. Brunhilde Raiser, head of National council of German women's organisation with colleagues

14. Pan whistles

15. SOUNDBITE: (German) Brunhilde Raiser, head of National council of German women's organisation:

"We want to point out that forced prostitution exists and it is a heavy violation of human rights. We have to fight against it and to stop it if possible. That's why we have very clear demands to politicians and the people in charge, which we have to follow up in detail after the World Cup."

16. Zoom in banner of campaign "stop forced prostitution," pull focus

STORYLINE:

As soccer's best players prepare to square off this summer at the World Cup, businesses across Germany are anticipating a huge windfall with the arrival of an estimated 1 (m) million fans from around the world.

The sex industry is no exception, and just down the street from Berlin's Olympic Stadium, which hosts the final, stands the city's largest brothel.

Artemis, which cost 8.2 (m) million dollars to build was established in September with an eye on capitalising on the influx of World Cup visitors.

The four storey, 40-bedroom bordello is decorated with fake animal prints and velvet on beds, walls and furniture, as well as Greek and Roman statues under North African style arches.

The establishment has been averaging 130 visitors a day, many from the nearby convention centre, and was planning to blitz the Olympic Stadium and Berlin hotels with leaflets during the World Cup.

Eike Wilmans, PR Manager of the "Artemis," said he expected demand to increase during the World Cup.

Prostitution is legal in Germany, with about 400,000 people registered in the trade - the women who work in Artemis pay taxes and receive social benefits like people in any other job.

However, the anticipated World Cup sex-trade boom has raised fears of an increase in forced prostitution - an estimated 40,000 women from poorer Eastern European countries were expected to be heading to Germany for the World Cup, some against their will.

Already, the European Union estimates more than 100,000 women in Europe each year are forced into prostitution.

A Berlin women's group has started an information campaign against forced prostitution to coincide with the World Cup, endorsed by German Soccer Federation President Theo Zwanziger.

Brunhilde Raiser, head of National council of German women's organisation, said forced prostitution was a violation of human rights.

"We have to fight against it and to stop it if possible. That's why we have very clear demands to politicians and the people in charge, which we have to follow up in detail after the World Cup."

Police in Berlin have said they are planning raids to uncover illegal prostitution rings during the World Cup.

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide pan of coordination centre of Interior Ministry

2. Medium shot of military official

3. Screens on wall

4. Military officials looking at computer screen

5. Red light on ceiling, pull out to wide of room

6. SOUNDBITE (German) Christian Sachs, Interior Ministry spokesman:

"We Germans do not have to look as far as Warsaw or Basel, we have seen here in Berlin that there are problems, and that is very aggravating. For the World Cup though, we have to say that we expect to have a very secure situation in the stadiums through the personalisation (labelling with names of owners) of tickets."

7. Cutaway coordination centre

8. SOUNDBITE (German) Christian Sachs, Interior Ministry spokesman:

"Video surveillance, fencing, entry control are all segments that must be implemented there. Until now, the signs have been positive that the federal state police forces and communities plan to do so. We expect the fans to react in a certain way, namely to isolate potential violent people, and on the other hand, we have to make sure that there is a way to punish those who want to cause trouble."

9. Low shot of coordination centre

STORYLINE

The German Interior Ministry has expressed confidence that the security measures taken for the World Cup in Germany will prevent scenes of football violence similar to those seen in Warsaw, Basel and Berlin over the weekend.

Interior Ministry spokesman Christian Sachs spoke to AP Television News at the opening of the Interior Ministry's National Information and Coordination Centre (NICC) on Tuesday.

"We expect to have a very secure situation in the stadiums," Sachs said.

The NICC will be operational 24 hours a day, and is designed to facilitate the exchange of security-related information between various organisations and government bodies.

While Sachs showed concern about the escalation of violence in various cities, he said the personalisation, or printing of the rightful owner's name, on tickets would guarantee security.

Sachs appealed to the local authorities to implement security measures suggested by the federal government for the so called "Public Viewing" areas.

The police union has repeatedly expressed concern about some 300 such locations where safety measures are regulated by the local authorities.

Worry surrounding security at the World Cup has grown after scores of police and rioters were injured during clashes between police and violent football fans in Basel and Warsaw over the weekend, and a third league match had to be interrupted after clashes between fans broke out in Berlin.

Sachs also appealed to the football fans themselves: "We expect the fans to react in a certain way, namely to isolate potential violent people."

SHOTLIST

1. Tilt of painting on wall featuring members of Brazilian football team

2. Brandenburg gate, with massive football sculpture in foreground

3. Brazilian fans holding a banner

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Brazilian fans, voxpops (No names given):

Woman (not in shot): "It is just formality..."

Man: "To do, to play it, but we will win today."

Woman: "But it is nice to play against them because they really want to win so it will be a nice match to see."

5. Two Brazilian fans and one Croatian fan walking away together, pan to massive Brandenburg gate football

6. Various of Croatian fans singing

7. Various of Brazilian fans singing

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Croatian fans, voxpops (No names given):

"Last game was nil-nil I think so this is the time to beat them I think."

(Reporter: "You really think you have a chance?")

"Yes we have a chance, this is football, you never know."

9. Various Brazilian fans singing and playing guitar

10. Various of Brazilian supporters playing samba music outside the Kempinski hotel (place where the Brazilian team is staying)

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Croatian fan, voxpop (No name given):

"You can imagine if a nation of four (m) million people like Croatia wins against Brazil. It would be one week of holiday celebration in Croatia."

13. Croatian supporters and Brazilian supporters walking past each other

14. Dog wearing Brazilian shirt

15. Brazilian girls chanting and jumping

STORYLINE

The mood was festive and colourful on Tuesday morning as Brazilian and Croatian fans gathered in the German capital, Berlin, ahead of their teams' World Cup Group F clash later in the day.

Brazil are five-time champions and heavy favourites to win a record sixth world championship.

The Croats, third in the 1998 World Cup in France, have admitted a draw would be called heroic.

The match, scheduled for 9 p.m. local time (1900 GMT), is the first in the tournament to be played at the Olympiastadion.

A big screen has been set up at the Brandenburg gate for those fans not lucky enough to get tickets for the game.

Early on Tuesday morning fans of both teams wrapped in their nations' flags sang and danced in the sun while waiting for the game to start.

A Croatian fan said he thought his team stood a chance against the current champions, whilst Brazilian supporters appeared more certain, almost arrogant, about success.

"This is a formality," said one Brazilian fan.

Brazil's coach, however, has said he expects Group F to be decided only in the final round of games.

Australia, Brazil's next opponent on Sunday, beat Japan 3-1 on Monday in their group opener.

Brazil and Croatia have drawn the only two times they have played, including 1-1 in a friendly last year.

Both sides will be at full strength for Tuesday's match at the Olympiastadion.

Outside the Kempinski hotel where the Brazilian team is staying in central Berlin, around 40 Brazilian supporters were waiting and playing samba rhythms, hoping to catch a glimpse of their heroes.

Keyword-world cup 2006

SHOTLIST:

1. Tilt of painting on wall featuring members of Brazilian football team

2. Brandenburg gate, with massive football sculpture in foreground

3. Brazilian fans holding a banner

4. SOUNDBITE, (English) Brazilian fans:

Woman (not in shot): "It is just formality..."

Man: "To do, to play it, but we will win today"

Woman: "But it is nice to play against them because they really want to win so it will be a nice match to see."

5. Two Brazilian fans and one Croatian fan walking away together, pan to massive Brandenburg gate football

6. Various of Croatian fans singing

7. Various of Brazilian fans singing

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Croatian fans:

"Last game was nil-nil I think so this is the time to beat them I think."

(Reporter: "You really think you have a chance?")

"Yes we have a chance, this is football, you never know."

9. Various Brazilian fans singing and playing guitar

STORYLINE

The mood was festive and colourful on Tuesday morning as Brazilian and Croatian fans gathered in the German capital, Berlin, ahead of their teams' World Cup Group F clash later in the day.

Brazil are five-time champions and heavy favourites to win a record sixth world championship.

The Croats, third in the 1998 World Cup in France, have admitted a draw would be called heroic.

The match, scheduled for 9pm (19:00 GMT), is the first in the tournament to be played at the Olympia stadium.

A big screen has been set up at the Brandenburg gate for those fans not lucky enough to get tickets for the game .

Early on Tuesday morning fans of both teams wrapped in their nations' flags sang and danced in the sun while waiting for the game to start.

A Croatian fan said he thought his team stood a chance against the current champions, whilst Brazilian supporters appeared more optimistic about success.

"This is a formality," said one Brazilian fan.

Brazil's coach has said he expects Group F to be decided only in the final round.

Australia, Brazil's next opponent on Sunday, beat Japan 3-1 on Monday in their debut in the group.

Brazil and Croatia drew the only two times they played, including 1-1 in a friendly last year.

Both sides will be at full strength for Tuesday's match at the Olympiastadion.

Keyword-world cup 2006