The traditional FIFA World Cup trophy tour began atop of the
Corcovado Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the famous Christ
the Redeemer statue, one of the largest crafts in the world stands,
overlooking the city, especially the iconic Maracana Stadium.The trophy is currently on the Oceanic Island of Vanuatu, as it was scheduled to leave Fiji Islands yesterday.
It was the third time that the world’s most coveted single sports’ prize would go round the world. But on like the previous two occasions, Nigeria had been left out this time.
The Coca-Cola Company sponsored the tour, which first took place in 2006. It was part of the exclusive partnership, which FIFA has with one of its longest-standing corporate partners. The trophy would travel round the world for nine months before returning to Brazil, the World Cup hosts.
It was meant to travel the six confederations and make stops in 88 countries in 267 days. Sadly, Nigeria was excluded this time around, though the trophy would visit eight other African countries, including the troubled Egypt, which is one of the 10 African countries jostling for places in the next year’s World Cup.
The other African countries to enjoy the trophy tour are Ghana, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa.
The iconic trophy would enter Africa through Egypt on November 14, a day before the country faces Ghana in the return leg of the final qualifier for the World Cup. Since Egypt would have the trophy in its territory for three days, it would have the rare opportunity of hosting the cup during its World Cup qualifying game.
The trophy would then be taken to Tunisia for another three days from November 17. From there it would be taken to Algeria, Morocco and Ghana, which would be hosting the cup for the third consecutive tour.
The nine-month tour of the trophy was designed to give people around the world, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the unique aura of the most coveted trophy in football.
Starting from Accra, Ghana, the trophy toured the world for the first time on January 7, to April 10, 2006. It made an unprecedented tour, visiting 31 cities in 28 countries over a three-month stretch.
In the build-up to the 2010 World Cup, the tour was into 84 countries, including 50 of the 53 African nations.
According to figures released by FIFA, nearly one million fans had souvenir pictures taken in the largest experimental marketing tour ever undertaken by Coca-Cola.
The tour covered 138, 902 kilometres, more than three times the circumference of the Earth. This time the tour would cover 149,576.78 km.
Post a Comment