Giant soccer ball will roll into World Cup towns
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Fussball Globus FIFA WM 2006, a giant 66-ft soccerballshaped pavilion, is touring between cities hosting the 2006 FIFA World Cup games. The interpretive center features large-screen projections and virtual scenarios as well as interactive games that highlight various aspects of soccer. |
The soccer ball's 20 hexagons and 12 pentagons are Dyneon ETFE from Dyneon LLC, a 3M Co., Oakdale, Minn. (dyneon.com). Air pressure forms the thermally insulating cushions that are held together in a steel grid. Inside the mobile Fussball Globus FIFA WM 2006 pavilion, visitors will see largescreen projections and virtual scenarios as well as play interactive games that highlight various aspects of the sport.
Extruded by Bavarian-based Nowofol Kunststoffprodukte GmbH & Co. KG, the ETFE film is highly weatherproof, resists most chemicals, and is nearly self-cleaning with every rainfall, thanks to the material's low-surface tension. The material also boasts outstanding UV stability and mechanical properties, including good tear and puncture strengths that will help the panels withstand hail. Additionally the material doesn't support combustion and carries a B1 Fire classification, according to DIN 4102, flame-retardant nonburning drip.
The 32 lightweight, film-covered panels made by Covertex GmbH of Obing for the steel-construction specialists Mero, of Wurzburg easily dismantle and reassemble. The films provide up to 95% light transmittance. During the day colored lighting lets the structure resemble a soccer ball but at dusk 20,000 power LEDs transform it into a brightly lit globe.
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