Details were announced today, Friday December 4th, of the inclusion of Ireland as one of the destinations for the "FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca Cola". The trophy will visit 86 countries during a nine month journey in anticipation of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Finals in South Africa. This will be the first time the FIFA World Cup™ trophy has visited Ireland. It will spend a total of four days in Ireland including a stopover in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The Trophy Tour, which began its journey from the FIFA Headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland on September 21, 2009, will travel around the world before arriving in the host country of South Africa on May 4, 2010. The total distance the tour will travel is 134,017 kilometres (83,274 miles) or more than three times the circumference of Earth. The Tour was developed through an exclusive partnership between FIFA and Coca-Cola, one of the organisation's longest-standing corporate partners.
The Trophy Tour will arrive in Dublin on Saturday April 3rd and will remain in the capital until Tuesday April 6th. It is hoped that as many as 3,000 people will get the opportunity to view the trophy in person and have their photograph taken with it during its stay in Ireland. Details of the itinerary of the Irish leg of the Trophy tour will be announced in the New Year, as will information on the entry process to the free competitions that will be run to win tickets to see the trophy.
At the event fans will have the opportunity to have a souvenir photo taken of themselves with the trophy, view a special 3-D movie showcasing memorable moments of the FIFA World Cup, participate in interactive displays and enjoy other entertainment. A key theme of the Dublin leg of the tour will be a nostalgic look back to the 1990 and 1994 FIFA World Cup Finals at which the Republic of Ireland competed so successfully.
"It is with great excitement that we at Coca-Cola Ireland announce that the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour will visit Ireland for the first time next April," said Siodhna McGowan, Brand Manager, Coca-Cola Ireland.
"This country and its people are hugely passionate about sport and football in particular and it is a great thrill for us to be able to bring the experience of seeing this iconic trophy up close to Irish sports fans. The Trophy Tour brings with it a huge amount of positive energy and we hope this unique event will generate a lot of interest here. We will be announcing details of the Trophy Tour’s Irish itinerary in due course."
The Trophy
The authentic, FIFA World Cup™ trophy is presented to the winning team on the field of play at each tournament. The iconic trophy measures 36.8 centimetres (14.5 inches) high, weighs in at 6,175 grams (13.61 pounds) and is made of solid, 18-carat gold. The base contains two layers of semi-precious malachite, while the bottom side of the Trophy bears the engraved year and name of each FIFA World Cup winner since 1974.
The Coca-Cola Company and FIFA
The Coca-Cola Company has had a formal association with Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) since 1974 and an official sponsorship of FIFA World Cup™ that began in 1978. Coca-Cola has had stadium advertising at every FIFA World Cup™ since 1950 and is a long-time supporter of football at all levels, from grassroots to the FIFA World Cup™.
About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with nearly 500 sparkling and still brands. Along with Coca-Cola®, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company's portfolio includes 12 other billion dollar brands, including Diet Coke®, Fanta®, Sprite®, Coca-Cola Zero®, vitaminwater, POWERADE®, Minute Maid® and Georgia® Coffee. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees.
Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate of nearly 1.6 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. For more information about our Company, please visit our website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.
About the 2010 FIFA World Cup™
The 2010 FIFA World Cup™ takes place in South Africa, kicking off on 11 June. It is the first time the 32 final teams are competing for the world’s most sought after trophy on the African continent. The final will be played on 11 July 2010 at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg. The final draw for the groups is to take place in Cape Town on 4 December 2009.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Media can retrieve a digital photo and route map to accompany this story by visiting our Press Centre Image Gallery at www.thecoca-colacompany.com
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For more information, please contact:
Public Affairs and Communications Manager
Coca-Cola HBC Ireland
Phone number: + 353 1 8807100