Coca-Cola Flag bearers do TT proud

They were among scores of youngsters from more than two dozen countries who were part of a Coca-Cola Football camp in Germany while preparing for their dream roles at matches of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany.

These youths proudly represented Trinidad and Tobago and the Soca Warriors supporters watching all over the world at one of the most memorable football matches in our nation’s history.

This is the third straight time the Coca-Cola Youth Programme provided Flag Bearers for FIFA World Cup matches.

The programme was introduced at the 1998 FIFA World Cup France and expanded for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan, when 18 countries were represented. Prior to the kick-off of every 2006 FIFA World Cup match, the uniformed Flag Bearers from Coca-Cola carry the national flags of the competing teams into the stadium.

The Flag Bearers remain on the field for the playing of the respective countries’ national anthems.

The 2006 edition of the Coca-Cola Youth Programme also marks the debut of young Referee Escorts for all pre-match ceremonies. One teen per match will escort the match officials onto the pitch and also carry the coin that the referee tosses prior to kick-off.

Following each pre-match ceremony, the Flag Bearers and Referee Escort will be seated to enjoy the match as guests of The Coca-Cola Company.

Across the worldwide Coca-Cola system, an array of “We All Speak Football” selection programmes has been used to identify the Flag Bearers and Referee Escorts, with each nation deciding how their young representatives were to be chosen.

In addition to hosts Germany, countries with Flag Bearers selected through local Coca-Cola programmes for the 2006 FIFA World Cup include Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, England, France, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Romania, Scotland, Serbia and Montenegro, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine and the United States.

As in the past, the 2006 Coca-Cola Youth Programme was open to countries around the world, regardless of whether or not a nation qualified for the FIFA World Cup. Signalling the growing popularity of the programme, roughly half of the countries represented in the Youth Programme this time do not have national football teams playing in the tournament.

In 2002, just two non-qualifying countries sent Flag Bearers to participate.

“That’s part of the magic of the programme,” said Ricardo Fort, director, Global Football Marketing, The Coca-Cola Company. “Youths everywhere have a passion for football, so we’re making this role-of-a-lifetime to serve at the FIFA World Cup as inclusive as possible.

“Along those lines, the Coca-Cola Football Camp is another experiment that reflects our ‘We All Speak Football’ platform for breaking down barriers.

“Through football and Coke, we’re bringing young people from different countries and cultures together in a fun, active setting that’s ideal for making new connections.”