German television host and producer Amelie Stiefvatter and cameraman Peter Soelter have flown halfway across the world to Dunedin to show the world how the city is celebrating the Fifa Women’s World Cup.
The pair, who work for ZDF, a state television company with the largest broadcasting reach in Germany, are following the Swiss team, which are based in Dunedin, due to their coach Inka Grings, who played 96 caps for Germany.
They will cover tonight’s game in Dunedin between the Swiss and the Philippines, but are also creating mini-movies about how Dunedin is embracing football.
As part of their coverage they filmed local rugby practices — "we wanted to show the German people how important rugby is" — visited the Fan Festival last night and interviewed the Otago Daily Times.
They also attended Swiss trainings, which Stiefvatter described as "very cosy" and accessible, in contrast to when she covered the men’s World Cup in Qatar last year.
Stiefvatter, who visited Treble Cone skifield with the Austrian ski team four years ago, is enjoying her time in Dunedin — "we have only met friendly people" — and following the Swiss team.
The German team are based in Wyong, north of Sydney, and she said their hotel was further away from training facilities than the Swiss players were to theirs.
She liked seeing how the Swiss embraced the city.
"They tried to catch more of their fans, more of the people, more of the atmosphere around.
"I like being with other teams to get a different perspective."
Stiefvatter and Soelter travel to Adelaide tomorrow to continue their World Cup coverage.
