FIFA cancels World Cup opening in Berlin

The World Cup opening gala in Berlin has been cancelled just five months before the tournament. The move came because of fears that the event could damage the playing surface needed at the Olympic Stadium five days later. Berlin's Mayor Klaus Wowereit told a news conference that possible damage to the football pitch had been taken into account while planning a one of a kind opening ceremony. The gala's artistic director Andre Heller had auditioned and trained a cast of more than 5,000 volunteers for the spectacle.