A match made in… ummm…

Pop quiz: what’s the first thing you think of when someone mentions soccer’s World Cup?
(My answer is summarized by an announcer saying “They have taken an insurmountable 1-0 lead.”)

For some people in Germany, where the World Cup will be held this year, the answer is a chance to profit from an increase in demand for the legal sex trade.

“The combination of nail-biting soccer matches and crowds of beer-swilling males could mean hefty profits for Germany's sex industry. It is deploying an army of prostitutes to satisfy the needs of libidinous fans during the month-long 2006 World Cup. Some 1 million foreign visitors are expected to flood into Germany from June 9 and many expect large numbers of male spectators to wind down after a match in the arms of a prostitute or in the red light districts of the 12 host cities.”

This reminds me of Hunter S. Thompson’s comment that locals could always tell when President Nixon was about to visit his San Clemente home when they noticed an influx of prostitutes. (Not for Nixon but for all the support staff)

My favorite quote, however, is from Sindy at the end of the article. “I can tell you that most men who watch a soccer game also have quite a few beers and that's not exactly boosting their standing power.”