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CNN Sunday Morning

Annual Berlin Love Parade Struts Its Stuff

Aired July 13, 2003 - 11:24   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: It started out as a small protest march, for people fighting for their right to party. Now Berlin's love parade has become the ultimate celebration. Here's Eden Pontz.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

EDEN PONTZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They came by trains, planes, and automobiles, hundreds of thousands of revelers flooding Germany's capital city with love. Talk about an unusual summer romance.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Music makes you feel like you're, I don't know, it's just great.

PONTZ: It's the 15th annual love parade. Beginning back in 1989 with only 150 ravers, the party has now become a Berlin institution.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Fun, fun and sex.

PONTZ: With this year's motto, love rules, the event encourages peace, dancing, laughter, naked skin, and sharing the love amid the techno music streaming through the streets.

"The question is whether I can take it," says this 77-year-old festivalgoer, "but you have to take a look. In my day, you didn't have these kinds of things."

Event planners described the parade as the biggest dance floor on earth. Comparable to 36 football fields. Flatbed trucks carry colorful floats and disc jockeys from Europe who spin the latest in electronic music. Berlin's mayor says the parade symbolizes the image of the new and modern Berlin, and acts as a worldwide ad for tolerance and diversity.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've come all the way from New York. Yes, that's the place to be.

PONTZ: This year, as part of their aim to show the world the meaning of love, organizers teamed up with the German red cross to donate partial proceeds from love parade souvenirs. The money goes towards the construction of two rehabilitation centers in Iraq for civilians hurt by mines or injured in recent fighting. But for those attending the festival, it's all about love.

Eden Pontz, CNN reporting. (END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired July 13, 2003 - 11:24   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: It started out as a small protest march, for people fighting for their right to party. Now Berlin's love parade has become the ultimate celebration. Here's Eden Pontz.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

EDEN PONTZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They came by trains, planes, and automobiles, hundreds of thousands of revelers flooding Germany's capital city with love. Talk about an unusual summer romance.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Music makes you feel like you're, I don't know, it's just great.

PONTZ: It's the 15th annual love parade. Beginning back in 1989 with only 150 ravers, the party has now become a Berlin institution.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Fun, fun and sex.

PONTZ: With this year's motto, love rules, the event encourages peace, dancing, laughter, naked skin, and sharing the love amid the techno music streaming through the streets.

"The question is whether I can take it," says this 77-year-old festivalgoer, "but you have to take a look. In my day, you didn't have these kinds of things."

Event planners described the parade as the biggest dance floor on earth. Comparable to 36 football fields. Flatbed trucks carry colorful floats and disc jockeys from Europe who spin the latest in electronic music. Berlin's mayor says the parade symbolizes the image of the new and modern Berlin, and acts as a worldwide ad for tolerance and diversity.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've come all the way from New York. Yes, that's the place to be.

PONTZ: This year, as part of their aim to show the world the meaning of love, organizers teamed up with the German red cross to donate partial proceeds from love parade souvenirs. The money goes towards the construction of two rehabilitation centers in Iraq for civilians hurt by mines or injured in recent fighting. But for those attending the festival, it's all about love.

Eden Pontz, CNN reporting. (END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com