Cup arrives: "The trophy is a Berliner"

The cup is here – now only the finalists are missing: one and a half weeks before the DFB Cup Final on Saturday, May 21 at the Olympiastadion Berlin (8 p.m. live on ARD television), the trophy has arrived in Berlin.

World Cup champion Paul Breitner handed over the trophy today in the name of the current cup champion Bayern München at the Alte Stadthaus to Berlins governing mayor Klaus Wowereit. “This final ins one of the absolute highlights any player can participate in“, said Breitner during the hand over of the cup. “That is also the reason I am handing it over while shedding a little tear.”

During the Cup final weekend „football takes over the city“

Wowereit will safeguard the 52 centimeter high and twelve and a half pound heavy trophy until the final: “We are happy to once again be the host and hope to see an exciting fight in the final. The Cup belongs to Berlin. The atmosphere is always something special to experience. During this time football takes over the city which always filles us up with joy.”

DFB general secretary Wolfgang Niersbach added: „I say the Cup is a Berliner. And at the DFB we are very happy to be in Berlin and can barely wait for the final to start. The Cup in Germany is – in my mind – more popular than any other Cup event in the world. It is a competition that spreads to all of German football and that is the way it should stay. That makes it such an interesting and exciting competition.”

Until the final at the Olympiastadion Berlin, the Cup made from fire-gilded sterling silver that is studded with twelve tourmalines, twelve rock crystals and 18 nephrites – one of which is its large green center piece – will be on display in front of the Wappensaal at the Rote Rathaus (mayor’s office) every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fans can have their picture taken with the cup and get close to it – just like those who end up winning the Cup.