Football products a highlight of Frankfurt Book Fair

Six months ahead of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, football fever spread to the world-renowned Frankfurt Book Fair (19-23 October), the biggest single gathering of the international publishing industry. In a one-off, 2,000 square metres were given over to the "World of Football" which included football literature, a table football game, an exhibition of photography and a sporting program. The spectrum covered children's books, player biographies, stadium photography, histories and novels and business aspects such as specific tax law and transfer regulations.

Three photography exhibitions featured the work of renowned lensmen on the subjects of "Football, language of the world", "Street soccer around the globe", and panorama images taken at stadiums. A Football Forum hosted readings and round-table discussions explored the links between literature, culture and the game, including a gathering of publishers and the retail trade on specific FIFA World Cup publications, podium discussions on sports journalism and refereeing scandals, and readings on the history of the FIFA World Cup.