Local fans to get a glimpse of World Cup trophy

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Pretoria-The FIFA World Cup Trophy will arrive in South Africa on May 5 on the final leg of its global tour.

The World Cup Trophy tour began at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich in September last year and has already toured 83 other countries.

The 36 cm high trophy made of solid 18-carat gold and weighs 6,175 kg, will make its way across the country's nine provinces and will stop at 33 cities and towns.

The trophy tour will start in the Western Cape on May 7, and will then travel to the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State, Northern Cape, North West, Mpumalanga and Limpopo before returning to Gauteng early in June before the opening match at Soccer City.

"Millions of South Africans will get an opportunity to see the FIFA World Cup Trophy up close, and some who would have won competition tickets will have a special moment of taking a picture with the Trophy, and participate in celebrations as it moves across all nine provinces," said Onwell Msomi, Coca-Cola's 2010 FIFA World Cup Project Team General Manager.

At each of the venues, the trophy will be prominently displayed for public viewing and about 800 people per event will be able to have their pictures taken with the trophy.

"Now that the FIFA World Cup Trophy is coming back to South Africa, it will be a final reminder to all South Africans that the long anticipated tournament is now only days away," added Msomi.