World Cup comes next month

Coca-Cola is the official sponsor of both the game’s governing body FIFA and the World Cup Trophy Tour.

Marketing Manager of the Caribbean Service Company Limited, Anissa Taitt viewing of the World Cup is a free event. "However tickets are required and these tickets are available to the general public via a Coca-Cola Text to COKE promotion," she said. "Consumers are encouraged to text the code found under the caps of a Coca- Cola 20-ounce bottle to C-O-K-E (2653) in order to win a ticket and the chance to experience the real FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour," Taitt said.

The public will be specially treated at the event, as they will have the opportunity to have their photos taken with the trophy. Patrons can also witness a specially created short feature film, produced using the latest 3-D technology, that builds to the unveiling of the actual World Cup Trophy.

Also speaking at the media conference was Derek Waddell, Caribbean Operation Director of Caribbean Service Company Limited.

Waddell noted that Coca-Cola have been a corporate partner with FIFA since 1974 and recently signed a partnership extension from 2007-2022 (eight years with an automatic eight-year renewal, subject to certain conditions).

He also revealed that the inaugural World Cup Trophy Tour will cover 31 cities in 28 nations from January 7 until April 10.

There will also be initiatives, organised by the Coca-Cola company, for the local fans.

The Coca-Cola 2006 FIFA World Cup International Flag Bearers Youth Programme will cater for local teenagers, between the ages of 12-16, to go to Germany as official national flag bearers.

They will be joined by teenagers from all over the globe as well as hundreds of German teens to comprise a "Flag Team" contingent that will carry the national flags at all the World Cup matches.

The company, via the World Cup promotions, will be giving fans the chance to win exciting World Cup premium prizes and, after the tournament, consumers and customers will have the chance to earn pieces of authentic memorabilia, including the Adidas match balls used at the competition.

According to information from the FIFA website, the current trophy cannot be won outright, as the regulations state that it shall remain FIFA’s own possession. The World Cup winners retain it until the next tournament and are awarded a replica, gold-plated rather than solid gold.

The new trophy is 36 centimetres high, made of solid 18-carat gold and weighs 4,970 grammes. The base contains two layers of semi-precious malachite and has room for 17 small plaques bearing the name of the winners — space enough for the World Champions up to the year 2038.

Dates and venues for the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour—

January 7 - Accra, Ghana; January 11 - Lagos, Nigeria; January 14 - Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; January 17 - Johannesburg, South Africa; January 20 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; January 22 - Sao Paulo, Brazil; January 25 - Mar del Plata, Argentina; January 28 - Quito, Ecuador; January 31 - Bogota, Colombia; February 4 - Asuncion, Paraguay; February 8 - San Jose, Costa Rica; February 11 - Mexico City, Mexico; February 13 - Monterrey, Mexico; February 17 - Port of Spain, Trinidad; February 20 - Los Angeles, United States; February 25 - Tokyo, Japan; February 28 - Seoul, South Korea; March 3 - Singapore; March 6 - Jakarta, Indonesia; March 9 - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; March 12 - Bangkok, Thailand; March 15 - Beijing, China; March 17 - Shanghai, China; March 20 - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; March 23 - London, England; March 26 - Zurich, Switzerland; March 29 - Rostov, Russia; April 1 - Kiev, Ukraine; April 4 - Istanbul, Turkey; April 7 - Athens, Greece; April 10 - Rome, Italy.