I recently stumbled upon the funny story about an alleged Sri Lankan national handball team that disappeared from a local tournament in the Bavarian village of Wittislingen in 2003. While their hosts still wondered at their weak handball skills, the 23 Sri Lankans had already taken off to Italy to start a new life in Europe. There was no national handball team in Sri Lanka at all: Those guys just pretended bo be one, just to get in possesion of German tourist visas. Very creative, indeed! The story even got onto the big screen when director Uberto Pasolini made a movie named Machan (German title: Spiel der Träume) in 2008. BBC News covered the episode here.
The video documentary We Love Germany: Thanks for Everything by Jenny Vogel features original voices (with English subtitles) of the Bavarian hosts involved in the whole thing, visual impressions of the Bavarian village included (a perfect place to vanish imho).
August 7, 2012 at 10:28 pm
An Overly Verbose, Slightly Satirical, yet Heartfelt Response:
While I agree with your implicit (or perhaps explicit) surprise at finding this story and share the same level of amazement as you do, I lack appreciation in one of your opening adjectives, “funny.” Sri Lanka is a rather small country, one that people often express unfamiliarity with when the word is passed around in conversation. In addition, the flowering youth with their “hip” worldliness often express familiarity with the word and often comedically proceed to connect India’s perceived identity with Sri Lanka’s as to blur the line between the cultures together and metaphorically merge the former’s southern boundary with the latter’s “northern” boundary (or perhaps this is just my encounters as a Sri Lankan-American when being jived by friends). Generally, however, it seems that quite a number of people lack considerable knowledge of the country’s history and culture (and knowledge of Ceylon does not count for that brings in a pervasively unwanted British association). Finally getting to the point, I want to express my disappointment in your use of the word “funny” in the phrase “I recently stumbled upon the funny story…”. I feel that you take on a condescending voice that characterizes the story as trifling and that projects a subtle (or perhaps a not so subtle) disrespect of the country. While the word “little” did not directly precede the word “funny”, it might as well have for its presence would not have altered the phrase’s protruding disrespect. While it may not be given as much airtime as world-leading and widely known countries, it is just like any other country, a land that houses an amazing and diverse group of people. Having “stumbled” off the beaten path, it is fair that you are surprised at your finding of a relatively unknown and publically sensationless (minus the 2004 tsunami) island. However, you should be more respectful of the physically small yet colossally amazing country. Quite a stunning story though!
Sincerely,
A suddenly nationalistic Sri Lankan-American
August 8, 2012 at 7:31 pm
Thanks for your response! I am far from meaning to hurt any patriotic feelings. I met Sri Lankans and they have been kind, generous and open-minded people – attributes many of my fellow countrymen unfortunately lack. My sister travels to Sri Lanka now and then and it became her favored destination.
I agree with you, that Sri Lanka seems to be underestimated and is for sure off the focus of European perception. That incident with the Sri Lankans tricking the German immigrations and their bavarian hosts to get into a (hopefully) better life in southern Europe is nevertheless satiric, exhilarating and funny – because of the modus operandi, not because of the origin of the folks.
BTW: My careless use of the adjective “funny” is due to my poor skills in the English language. And it could be dangerous, too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E84VqqCPI7w
Best regards, Michael
August 8, 2012 at 7:50 pm
I feel as though an apology is in line. Looking back upon my response, I feel as though I was a bit harsh and overly analytical of your blog post. I apologize! I liked the accompanying video in your response!! Very hilarious! I was trying to do some further research on the story. I wonder if they are still there now!
August 8, 2012 at 8:01 pm
No problem. ;-) Please let me know if your research results into a new development or a different aspect of the subject.
August 9, 2012 at 8:39 pm
Definitely!!!
November 5, 2012 at 9:34 am
nice video … thanks for the local people for their hospitality. i watched machan film and loving it very much.. with limited opportunities in sri lanka life must have been difficult down here. i hope they’ve found the life the wished for
November 26, 2012 at 3:20 am
Dear friends first I need tell u my english grammer not good.
You call about that insident funny story.no it is ofcouse not funy
I know that well because I am one person how in that team.
I whant tell u true that’s why I wrote this comment.
We r realy not blame or fun with german emmbassy .
Five years I try to go europe for job in leagaly but unfotunaly
I miss lot of mony and time that time I am 25 years now I am 34.
Some pepoles take our mony and they tall me it is legal way to go europe.
After long time they give only this solutiin .they tall me ok u whant go
Europe we can only this way if u like come or u didn’t we not return u mony.
That’s why for last solution I go with that team .my dear german friends I am sorry .and again very sorry for that insident.now I am in srilanka again.because
I not find good job.ok I am waiting u email thankyou (I whan tell u one thing germans are very frendly good kind pepole.)
November 27, 2012 at 7:27 pm
Dear Udith,
thank you very much for your comment. I know that it is very difficult to get a visa for Europe and Germany. I am very sorry to read that you lost money to a facilitator, who promised to bring you to Germany. People make money with the dreams and hopes of other people. Today the barrier for a work permit is even higher, only workers with very good academic education succeed in the struggle with German/European immigration authoroties. On the other hand, German employers are searching for qualified workers in Asia, but many Asians dont want to live in Germany. I hope you are doing well in beautiful Sri Lanka. Best regards, Michael