Shirt swap: Karl Marx plays again
Nischl greets with jersey for public viewing - Jerseys earmarked for charity after the World Cup
The Chemnitz Nischl gets his shirt back for public viewing. The base of the Marx head will wear his shirt for the German team's matches - for the first time this Monday evening. This was decided after the controversial discussion about the clothing campaign and the disappearance of the shirt. The decision in favour of the renewed shirt swap was made primarily due to the many positive opinions of Chemnitz citizens, who found the campaign to be a fresh and cheeky idea and communicated this both on social media and in other ways. However, the city would like to remain in dialogue with the campaign's critics and involve citizens even more in the campaign activities.
"We didn't take the decision lightly," says Katja Uhlemann, press spokeswoman for the city of Chemnitz, "after all, in addition to a lot of approval, the campaign has also prompted some extremely critical and even insulting comments." However, the issues raised in the debate are being taken very seriously.
"We welcome any constructive discussion," continues Uhlemann, "the campaign website www.die-stadt-bin-ich.de even has its own section for this, 'Mitnischeln'. The many positive and encouraging voices were decisive for the relaunch of the campaign. We want our city to be seen as cosmopolitan and with a thoroughly self-deprecating wink. This is also how the modified Marx quote 'Football fans of all countries, we salute you' is to be understood, with which we want to send a greeting from Chemnitz in several languages."
The bronze sculpture is a landmark of the city and as such should also be incorporated into city life. After all, the pedestal has already been used several times for campaigns, such as giant red ribbons, advertising for a furniture store or a radio station and the extremely successful launch of the "Rock am Kopp" concert series with over 5,000 enthusiastic spectators.
"Of course, the topic of football in general and the World Cup in Brazil in particular is polarising. Many of the things that are happening there are critical," explains Joerg G. Fieback, Managing Director of zebra Werbeagentur. "On the other hand, the World Cup has always been an opportunity for international understanding and will remain so. We see the fair
competition between the best national teams and want to celebrate with football fans all over the world. That stands for cosmopolitanism. That's why we are delighted to welcome everyone who is cheering on the Portuguese team at tonight's public viewing."
After the World Cup, there will be a charity campaign with the two T-shirts that are now available. "We have agreed with the sponsor that the shirts will be auctioned or sold in a special way and the proceeds will be donated," says Katja Uhlemann.