Speaking to over 300 capacity crowd at the unveiling of the FIFA Coca Cola World Cup Trophy at the Parliament house on Monday, Boss said that, “The day we understand the capacity to inspire millions of people around the world, was the day we, The Coca Cola Company decide to sponsor the Coca Cola World Cup.”
Boss said that they have a long standing relationship blong FIFA since 1974 and have been the official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup since 1978. “Coca Cola has long and up running with the most popular sport in the world, football.”
FIFA Coca Cola World Cup World Tour was first started in 2006, then in 2010 and now the 2014 World Tour. “I have the great privilege to be part of the World Cup Tour in 2010 and now the 2014. We are actually thrilled and honored to be able to spend some time with the people of Vanuatu, and we’re honoured and excited to have you as one of the first stops in the trophy tour.”
The trophy tour would see the trophy go through 89 countries, with Vanuatu being the third Pacific nation after Tahiti and Fiji.
“The 2014 trophy tour is the longest tour that the trophy has ever embarked on. The trophy will be travelling 93,000 miles around the world, which is like 3 and a half times around the world.”
Before closing his remarks, Boss thanked the Vanuatu Football Federation and the local organizing committee for their warm welcome and looks forward to a wonderful experience during the tour.
The trophy has left the country on Tuesday afternoon and will leave for Costa Rica before going to the Caribeans.
The trophy that was in the country this week is the same cup that Pele, Maradonna, Romario, Zidane, Bobby Charlton and Ronaldo have won in the past world cup tournaments.
FIFA’s Jan Schetters, that travelled with the trophy explained that the trophy is genuine, and it is the same trophy Vanuatu last saw in 2010 in South Africa when Italy won the cup.
“After a final, we have the countries name engraved in the trophy and the winning team parades with the trophy and after the parade the winners are awarded a replica which they get to keep as a permanent reminder of their great triumph. These gold-plated replicas are referred to as the FIFA World Cup Winners’ Trophies,” Schetters said.
The authentic, one-of-a-kind FIFA Coca Cola World Cup trophy is 36.8cm (14.5 inches) high, 6,175g (13.61 pounds) heavy, and made of 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.
Story By R Nasse