BERLIN, June 8 (UPI) -- Some 250,000 people celebrated Wednesday night in downtown Berlin to launch the FIFA Soccer World Cup festivities.
Over 3,200 police officers were on hand to stem potential violence, but the party, which took place in front of the Brandenburg Gate and stretched all the way to the Friedenssaeule, ended without any incidents.
Observers see the first and probably biggest Fan Fest as an important test for the rest of the month on the eve of tournament's first match, between Germany and Costa Rica, which kicks off Friday evening.
The show featured international pop stars Simple Minds, Ronan Keating, Andrea Bocelli and Nelly Furtado. Soccer legends Pelé (Brazil), Bobby Charlton (England), Paul Breitner (Germany) and Juergen Sparwasser (former German Democratic Republic) also appeared on stage, energized by the mass of people, who swayed flags from all over the world.
Security concerns had been high for the event, after a teenager late last month injured over 40 people with a knife at the opening ceremony of Berlin's new railway station.
The area around the party was fenced off, and security officials checked every fan for dangerous or sharp objects, including knives and glass bottles.
