Fifa World Cup Trophy available for fans in UAE

Football fans in the UAE will get a rare opportunity to get up close with the Fifa World Cup Trophy which touched down in the capital Abu Dhabi on Sunday morning.

The UAE became the 48th country for the Fifa World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola, which was launched in Brazil on September 12.

Coca-Cola celebrated with the UAE by bringing the iconic trophy in a vibrantly decorated Fifa World Cup™ Trophy Tour plane at the Royal Jet Terminal in Abu Dhabi International Airport.

“The passionate welcome we have received in the UAE has been contagious. To be able to witness the power football has to bring people together under a common passion. This is what makes this trophy truly a 'world’s cup' and why we are taking the trophy on its longest journey to date, visiting 90 countries over nine months. To quantify the tour, we will be travelling 92,000 miles which is over 3.5 times around the world,” said Scott McCune, Coca-Cola's Vice-President of Global Partnerships and Experiential Marketing.

A private ceremony was held at the Royal Jet Terminal hosted by the Coca-Cola delegation in co-ordination with Fifa representatives.

In attendance were a number of VVIPS such as Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan and UAE Football Association President Yousuf Yaqoub Al Serkal.

“We are very proud to welcome the Fifa World Cup™ Trophy to the UAE, a country that embodies the very essence of football, from the national passion for the sport, to the unity that defines the sportsmanship. This is a very special milestone and we are happy to be a part of it and to host the trophy on UAE land, spreading happiness to all,” said Al Serkal.

Thereafter, the Fifa World Cup™ Trophy hit the road to Dubai for an exclusive television programme hosted by MBC's Mustafa Agha at their studio in Dubai Media City.

"When countries are honoured to have the World Cup, people usually go to cover the arrival of the World Cup. Now the World Cup itself is coming to us. It is a big recognition of MBC as a station and Sada Al Malaeb as a programme," said veteran television broadcaster Agha who is MBC's head of sports.

"This is a great honour for us. In your media career this is the ultimate. It is an emotional moment, something you would only dream as a child," he added.

Fifa Ambassador and former Argentina international Gabriel Calderon said: "I feel so fortunate to be a part of the 2013 Fifa World Cup™ Trophy Tour. As someone who actually played in the Fifa World Cup™, I know firsthand the exhilaration the sport brings. To be able to spread that joy with Coca-Cola and Fifa, and see how happy it makes people, is truly a privilege.”

UAE is the last stop in the region after having toured Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

"We wanted to finish in UAE given it is a country where not only locals love the game but UAE brings the whole world to it. It falls under Coca-Cola's strategy of taking the World Cup all around the world so fans don't have to go to Brazil to enjoy the World Cup. We can bring the World Cup to them. It is a  great opportunity for all of them where they can interact with this most iconic trophy in football," added McCune.

The Fifa World Cup™ Trophy Tour will give over 7,000 lucky fans in Abu Dhabi a golden opportunity to experience the spirit of football when it goes public in in Malaib, Corniche Road on Monday December 16.

The fan experience at the one-day Fifa World Cup™ Trophy Tour ‘Fan Zone’ will open its doors at 10am.

Fans will be able to participate in a series of interactive activities before going through to see the trophy.

A larger than life ‘Brazuca’ football, the official match ball of the 2014 Fifa World Cup™, will be made readily available for fans to rejoice in the adidas area, making for a truly authentic experience.

Fans will also be able to play the ultimate football game on Sony Play Station consoles whilst listening to great music from Coke Studio.

As an advocate of a healthy and active lifestyle, Coca–Cola will give fans the opportunity to test their football skills in a ‘shoot and score’ challenge.

The Fifa World Cup™ mascot, Fuleco will make a special appearance, fuelling the excitement for the Fifa World Cup™ in Brazil.

Before being ushered into the room where the trophy will be unveiled, fans will be shown an inspirational short movie using hologram technology.

Finally, they will be exposed  to the pure gold trophy, weighing in at just over six kilograms of 18 carat gold and standing at 14.4 inches tall, being  proudly displayed.

Thousands of enthusiasts will revel in the dramatic unveiling of the authentic trophy which has only been held by an exclusive line of football heroes and heads of state from across the globe.

Their joy will be documented, as each fan will have the opportunity to have their pictures taken with the trophy as a memoir of this historic event.

Antoine Tayyar, Director of Public Affairs and Communications, Coca-Cola Middle East added: “Coca-Cola has always been in the business of spreading happiness around the world. How we do this, takes many forms and the Fifa World Cup™ Trophy Tour is just one of them. We all appreciate and rejoice in the passion that the Middle East and particularly the UAE has for football, and this Trophy Tour is just our way of fueling that flame.”

Ali Majed Al Mansoori, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “As Abu Dhabi’s gateway to the world, Abu Dhabi International Airport is proud to welcome the Fifa World Cup™ Trophy, a globally-recognised symbol of sportsmanship and excellence, to enthusiastic fans here in the UAE.”
 
After its stay in the UAE, the trophy will move onto the Pacific Islands, Central America, the Caribbean, and will finish its tour in April in Brazil, ahead of the start of the 2014 Fifa World Cup™ tournament.

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