Read More 22/03/03

The United States Men’s National Team will host Venezuela on March 29 at Seattle Seahawks Stadium in Seattle, following the decision of the Japanese Football Association to cancel their two-match U.S. tour. Kickoff for the first international soccer match at the new stadium is set for 1 p.m. PT, and will be broadcast live on ESPN2. Fans can follow the action live online via ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker, presented by Philips Electronics.

“We are certainly disappointed by the decision of the Japanese Football Association,” said U.S. Soccer President S. Robert Contiguglia. “We provided their federation with ample evidence of the extensive security measures in place, and we continue to have every confidence that Seattle will provide a safe environment for the players and fans to enjoy an outstanding display of soccer. Sporting events around the country remain on schedule, and we look forward to welcoming Venezuela to Seattle.”

Japan was scheduled to play Uruguay on March 26 at Qualcomm Stadium, then travel to meet the U.S. in Seattle three days later.

The United States and Venezuela have met only once before, with the teams battling to a 3-3 draw in the Copa America in 1993. The Venezuelans collected five victories in 2002 World Cup qualifying, including four of their last five matches, marking the most wins ever in their qualifying history.

“We’re excited that Venezuela has accepted the invitation to play us,” said U.S. Manager Bruce Arena. “Over the past two or three years, the Venezuelan national team has made great strides, and I think they are perhaps the most improved team in South America. We are certainly looking forward to the challenge.”

Tickets ranging in price levels from $20 to $70 are still on sale at all Ticketmaster outlets throughout Washington, Oregon and British Columbia, at the Seahawks Stadium ticket office, by phone (Seattle 206-628-0888; Tacoma 253-627-8497), and on-line at www.ussoccer.com. Groups of 20 or more can order through U.S. Soccer at 312-528-1290.

Tickets for the USA vs. Japan match will be valid for the game against Venezuela. Fans wishing to obtain a refund must make their cancellation by Friday, March 28, at 5 p.m. PT by returning tickets to their original point of purchase. Fans who ordered through Ticketmaster via phone or internet should call Ticketmaster directly or visit www.ticketmaster.com for further details. Refunds will be issued using the same form of payment originally used by the purchaser.

The United States is continuing preparation for participation in two major tournaments this summer. In June the U.S. will square off against Brazil, Cameroon and Turkey in the FIFA Confederations Cup from June 18-29 in France, and the USA will defend its Confederation championship in the 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup to be held from July 12-23 in Boston, Miami and Mexico City.

The U.S. is slated to face Mexico on May 8 at Reliant Field in Houston, and will host Paraguay in a preparation match for the Gold Cup July 6 at Columbus Crew Stadium.

courtesy of www.ussoccer.com

Soccer

For the past thirteen years, Earnie Stewart has been a regular on the U.S. National team roster.  In that time he has earned 84 caps and should add to that count when the U.S. plays Venezuela on Saturday in Seattle.

And while the veteran player has considered retiring from the international game, he still is having so much fun and continues to make solid contributions on the field that he has temporarily put any thought of retiring on hold.

“I thought about (retiring),” Stewart told US Soccer.  “I think I even said to some teammates that 2002 would be my last year.  Then again, I’ve had so much fun.  If you can still do something for soccer and for your country, why retire?” 

“Even if it’s only one or two more games, it’s still something that I enjoy.  I wouldn’t say it’s a decision making process; it’s more of me letting things happen.  I just want to go forward and enjoy life and soccer to the fullest.  I’ve always had a great feeling representing the United States.  In every one of the 84 times I’ve played for the national team, when they play the “Star Spangled Banner” I get goose bumps."

The soon-to-be 34 year old (Stewart’s birthday is on Friday March 28) does, however realize that with so much young talent his career is in its twilight.

“Not at all.  I could understand that Bruce (Arena) would want to go in a certain way, needing to look at younger players with World Cup qualifying about a year away.  The team has to keep going forward.  I was pleasantly surprised that my name was still up there to be called in.  I’m still very honored.”

“If this turns out to be my last camp, so be it.  I’ve had a great ride.”

Stewart’s playing days with the Star and Stripes could be extended with his recent move to MLS and D.C. United in January.  As his free transfer to the top U.S. domestic league will allow Arena to call on the veteran more for domestic matches.

Kickoff for the first international soccer match at the new stadium is set for 1 p.m. PT, and will be broadcast live on ESPN2.  Fans can follow the action live online via ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker, presented by Philips Electronics.

Click here for a complete transcript of the US Soccer interview

The Oakland Tribune

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said the nation is unable to pay $5 billion of international debt due this year and will seek to "restructure" its obligations in the wake of an oil strike that reduced government revenue. Chavez said the country would continue to pay its obligations though he didn't provide details. Venezuela, which has total debt of $29.8 billion, wants to restructure international bonds to free up cash needed to pay for schools and medicine, he said.

<a href=www.upi.com>Look at the full article By Sonia Kolesnikov UPI Business Correspondent From the Business & Economics Desk Published 3/25/2003 9:53 AM

SINGAPORE, March 25 (UPI) -- Cars have long stopped being looked at as a pure means of transportation. The right car now makes a statement about achievement and personality.

"It's all about expressing ourselves, our own ideas. In a way, it's very similar to fashion," says Justus Schneider, the director for worldwide marketing communication at Mercedes-Benz.

For this reason, the German luxury car manufacturer, part of the DaimlerChrysler group, is actively courting the fashion world on a global basis, as part of a three-pronged marketing strategy, along with sports and films.

It started with the Mercedes Australian Fashion Week, now in its sixth year, which showcases the latest collections from leading Australian designers and giving the opportunity to young designers to present their creations in a setting akin to their contemporaries in Milan, Paris, London and New York.

It was followed three years ago by a similar Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York, and this year Mercedes-Benz going all out to show itself as the car of reference for the fashion world by sponsoring new fashion festivals in Singapore, Seoul -- from Wednesday until April 2 -- and Los Angeles, from Monday through April 4.

More is to come, Schneider told United Press International in an interview, as the company will soon announce a "team-up" with a European designer. Schneider wouldn't reveal this name, only saying "It's going to be very exciting, but it will be announced in May and it's not yet appropriate to give any details."

Schneider was in Singapore at the start of the Singapore Fashion Festival 2003, where the company is for the first time sponsoring the Mercedes-Benz Asia Fashion Week, a platform for rising designer talents in the region.

"We want to establish Mercedes-Benz on a global scale in this vibrant industry that can deliver a lot to our brand. ... We want to be seen at the cutting edge," Schneider explained.

Fashion is part of a three prong marketing strategy for the car manufacturer, along with sports and films.

The company has had its name associated with the German national soccer team for many years, and is also sponsoring the international ATP Tour. The film industry is also an integral part of Mercedes-Benz strategy, though Schneider stressed the company never pays for its product to be placed in, "unlike some of our competitors."

A Mercedes-Benz was recently showcased in "Men in Black II," while competitor BMW "placed" its car in the latest James Bond. "We have an agency in Hollywood that screen scripts for us, and a lot of focus is spend on placement activity," Schneider said.

In the fashion world, the company has embarked on a global initiative, and is planning activities in Mexico, Venezuela, Canada, Hong Kong and Germany. There is a plan for a fashion festival in Hanoi, Vietnam, this year. Mercedes manufactures some of its car there

"Design trends are the same whether in architecture, cars or fashion. The difference is that a building design must survive centuries, while fashion survives a season. Car design has to be sustainable for some time, maybe 20 years, which is why we need to understand what's going on in terms of trends, styles," he said.

Frank Messer, president and chief executive office of DaimlerChrysler South East Asia added, "World class fashion designers push the limits of design in their search for excellence and in the process of setting new trends. In the same way, our Mercedes-Benz designers are challenged to create trendy and timeless designs by combining innovation and style."

www.forbes.com Reuters, 03.20.03, 1:49 PM ET By Ana Isabel Martinez

CARACAS, Venezuela, March 20 (Reuters) - Gleaming in showroom display windows across Venezuela, thousands of new cars are awaiting a buyer. But many will go unsold.

Battered by last year's 9 percent slide in the oil-rich nation's economy, Venezuela's automobile industry is bracing for plummeting sales after a two-month political opposition strike pushed the country even deeper into recession.

Industry representatives are forecasting a 30 percent decline in sales for 2003. A major factor, they say, will be a lack of dollars following the government's introduction of currency controls, which have cut off access to greenbacks for two months and paralyzed the import-reliant economy.

In the last year, car sales had fallen 40.7 percent as the local bolivar currency collapsed 46 percent against the dollar, inflation topped 31 percent, and interest rates climbed.

"Sales could fall this year as much as 30 percent, mostly in the first half. We might see an eventual improvement in the second half, if we manage to export more units assembled here," Roberto Madero, director of Venezuela's automobile business chamber, told Reuters.

Sales fell about 77 percent in the first two months, compared with the same period a year earlier, mainly due to the opposition strike that began in early December. It failed to unseat leftist President Hugo Chavez, but severely disrupted the nation's vital oil industry.

"It has been chaotic. The few people who come here just turn right around when they start talking about prices," said Jose Vicente Fossi, who sells Chryslers in an exclusive showroom in eastern Caracas.

The cheapest vehicle on the market -- with two doors and no air-conditioning -- costs 9 million bolivars ($5,625) in this poverty-ridden country, where the minimum salary is equal to $120 a month.

Fossi smiled as he recalled selling 100 to 120 units a month during 2001 -- a year that saw record sales of 217,000 units -- and the 50 cars a month he sold last year. This year he has been selling only seven cars a month.

In 2002, 128,623 vehicles -- 41 percent of them imported models -- were sold in Venezuela.

"It has been really ugly," said the salesman, who spends long hours surfing the Internet while waiting for customers.

FLIGHT FROM HIGH PRICES

Madero said he hoped interest rates on car purchases would drop from the roughly 50 percent range to stimulate demand. But growing unemployment and weakened consumer purchasing power meant Venezuelans were unlikely to keep buying top model cars and trading them in frequently as they did in the past, he said.

In a nation where petrol is cheaper than mineral water, the two-month opposition strike hit car-loving Venezuelans hard by disrupting gasoline supplies. Drivers were forced to wait for hours in long lines outside filling stations.

Madero underscored the negative impact of the lack of access to dollars for a sector that relies on imports for 60 percent of its products. The bleak market outlook has been compounded by a steep rise in prices as the local bolivar currency lost ground against the dollar.

The bolivar fell 24 percent from the beginning of the year until the government closed currency trading in late January to prepare for its new foreign exchange controls.

The Venezuelan currency stands at 1,600 bolivars to the dollar since the government implemented controls and a fixed exchange rate -- an appreciation of 16 percent from the last day of trading. But on the black market, the greenback is already trading at 2,300 bolivars.

Jorge Garcia Tunon, director of a Chevrolet concession, managed to sell 410 cars in one month in 2001. His tally for this year: no cars in January, 70 in February, 20 in March even with the discounts, preferential interest rates and special offers on the cheapest cars on the market.

"We really worried because we made huge investments to establish this concession, and now those plans are paralyzed," he said.

CRISIS HITS EVERYONE

The used car market also saw sales slip dramatically.

"We have never seen the market in such bad shape," said Carlos Padron, a veteran of 20 years in the business. "Before, you could sell about 12 to 15 cars a month. Now it's more like two or three -- if you are lucky."

Most sales representatives are feeling the pinch because they live on commissions; many have even sold their own cars because they need the cash.

Inmaculada Torres, a Ford saleswoman, bites her lip nervously as she talks about her future and the market on which she is so dependant.

"I rent my home, and we are thinking of moving to a cheaper place. I had to sell my car and buy an older one to cut costs," she said on the verge of tears. "I'm father and mother to my teenage kids."

For others, the crisis means the end of a family business and an introduction into the growing ranks of the unemployed.

Venezuela's jobless rate is 16 percent, according to government figures.

"We're getting squeezed. If this doesn't improve soon, we'll be closing down bit by bit," said Luis Miguel Sanchez, the owner and director of a family business selling Japanese cars. "We've given ourselves until April 30. What can we do?"