It may be a full three months away but World Cup fever is already starting to raise the temperature in Steveston Village.
The "Greatest Show on Earth" kicks off June 12 in Brazil with 32 of the world's best soccer nations competing for 32 days for the coveted trophy.
And a soccer-mad Steveston businessman has come up with an ingenious plan to celebrate the famous tournament and whip the entire city into a World Cup frenzy.
Davood Khatami, who owns the Bean and Beyond Café on No. 1 Road and Moncton Street, intends, with the help of fellow village proprietors, to transform Steveston into a "World Cup village" for the competition's duration.
Khatami is shooting for a total of 32 local businesses to get into the World Cup spirit by adopting a country of their choice and festooning their premises in that nation's colours and traditions.
"We have 18 businesses already committed and we're working with the City of Richmond and the Steveston Community Association on this; both of which love the idea," said Khatami, who admitted the World Cup village idea actually came from his wife, Eileen.
"We had such a great time during the last World Cup in 2010 that we wanted to do something again, but make it better. This time, we want to get the whole village involved.
"The plan is for each business involved to turn their business into their country's unofficial pavilion for the World Cup.
"Whatever the business is, it can put on special food for that country or products or just decorate for its adopted country; it's up to them."
Each business will have a "national day" during the 32-day tournament, added Khatami, during which all the focus will be on them.
"They can do barbecues, have music, whatever they want," he said.
"This is not just about attracting people to each business, it's about bringing the community and the whole of Richmond together; that's the power soccer has."
Germany-loving Iranian Khatami is no stranger to World Cup frivolity, catching the village's attention during the 2010 event in South Africa when he challenged local English barber Iain Mackelworth to a bizarre bet, which led to Mackelworth running through Steveston wearing just German Lederhosen.
This time around, Khatami is aiming for the fun to go beyond a semi-naked streak along Moncton Street, with his eyes trained on a big two-day World Cup party next to the local community centre.
"The hope is, for the last two days of the World Cup on July 12 and 13, to host a party each day, with lots of fun World Cup activities and have the games that day, the third/fourth place and final, played on a giant screen in a tent behind the community centre," said Khatami. "We need some money for that, though, so that's what we're working on right now."
As to which country he intends to adopt, Khatami has already "given" his beloved Germany to the Original Sausage Haus.
"Iran are there, so I'll probably take them," he said. "The Buck 'N' Ear will be Brazil, as I want them to be the official after-party place.
"But picking a country will be on a first-come, first-served basis."
If you're interested in signing up your business for the World Cup village, contact Khatami at 604-277-2687.
