Thousands of football fans got a rare,
up-close-and-personal look at the coveted 'jewel in the crown of world
football' when the three-month, 28-nation FIFA World Cup(TM) Trophy
Tour by Coca-Cola made its U.S. stop today in Los Angeles.
The authentic, solid-gold sports icon was on exhibit for the day at Universal Studios in Hollywood, giving the public a chance to see the newly renovated FIFA World Cup Trophy, which was physically updated late last year. The trophy is seldom seen in public outside the nation winning each FIFA World Cup(TM). It is the first time the trophy has been in the United States since 1994, when the USA hosted the FIFA World Cup(TM) and the championship game was held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
The FIFA World Cup(TM) Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola marks the most extensive exhibition of the trophy ever. The tour began in January in the African country of Ghana and will end in Rome, Italy, in April. The itinerary includes countries well known for their football passion and others where the sport's foothold might not be as obvious - and where the chance to see football's most prized possession is decidedly rare.
"We built our 2006 football programs around the theme 'We All Speak Football,' which captures the passion that people everywhere have for the game," said Santiago Blanco, director, Hispanic Marketing, Coca-Cola North America. "That was very evident today as people of all ages and origins turned out to enjoy an intimate viewing of the revered FIFA World Cup Trophy, which was truly an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Copa Coca-Cola & the FIFA World Cup(TM)
Along with bringing the FIFA World Cup Trophy to the United States, Coca-Cola also announced plans to tie its national youth soccer program, Copa Coca-Cola, to this year's FIFA World Cup(TM). Winners of the 2006 Copa Coca-Cola national tournament will travel to the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany(TM) to participate in the Coca-Cola FIFA World Cup(TM) International Flag Bearers Youth Program and the Coca-Cola Referee Escort Program.
Copa Coca-Cola is one of the country's most-exciting youth soccer tournaments. It provides a platform for teen boys and girls to participate in a world-class sports event, and is one of the few free youth tournaments in the country, giving access to young people from organized leagues and unorganized play. The tournament kicks off in March and will be hosted in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Calif., San Diego, San Jose, Calif., Phoenix, Dallas, Chicago, Houston, Miami and New York.
About The Coca-Cola Company & FIFA
The Coca-Cola Company is one of the longest-standing corporate partners of Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), with a formal relationship since 1974 and an official sponsorship of FIFA World Cup(TM) that began in 1978. Coca-Cola has had stadium advertising at every FIFA World Cup(TM) since 1950. The Company renewed its sponsorship agreement with FIFA in November of last year. The partnership extension is for 16 years (eight years with an automatic eight-year renewal, subject to certain conditions), from 2007 until 2022.
The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company. Along with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company markets four of the world's top five soft drink brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite, and a wide range of other beverages, including diet and light soft drinks, waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, coffees and sports drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate exceeding 1 billion servings each day. For more information about The Coca-Cola Company, please visit the Web site http://www.coca-cola.com.
Note to editors: For a detailed schedule of the FIFA World Cup(TM) Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola, please visit http://www.fifa.com.
The authentic, solid-gold sports icon was on exhibit for the day at Universal Studios in Hollywood, giving the public a chance to see the newly renovated FIFA World Cup Trophy, which was physically updated late last year. The trophy is seldom seen in public outside the nation winning each FIFA World Cup(TM). It is the first time the trophy has been in the United States since 1994, when the USA hosted the FIFA World Cup(TM) and the championship game was held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
The FIFA World Cup(TM) Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola marks the most extensive exhibition of the trophy ever. The tour began in January in the African country of Ghana and will end in Rome, Italy, in April. The itinerary includes countries well known for their football passion and others where the sport's foothold might not be as obvious - and where the chance to see football's most prized possession is decidedly rare.
"We built our 2006 football programs around the theme 'We All Speak Football,' which captures the passion that people everywhere have for the game," said Santiago Blanco, director, Hispanic Marketing, Coca-Cola North America. "That was very evident today as people of all ages and origins turned out to enjoy an intimate viewing of the revered FIFA World Cup Trophy, which was truly an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Copa Coca-Cola & the FIFA World Cup(TM)
Along with bringing the FIFA World Cup Trophy to the United States, Coca-Cola also announced plans to tie its national youth soccer program, Copa Coca-Cola, to this year's FIFA World Cup(TM). Winners of the 2006 Copa Coca-Cola national tournament will travel to the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany(TM) to participate in the Coca-Cola FIFA World Cup(TM) International Flag Bearers Youth Program and the Coca-Cola Referee Escort Program.
Copa Coca-Cola is one of the country's most-exciting youth soccer tournaments. It provides a platform for teen boys and girls to participate in a world-class sports event, and is one of the few free youth tournaments in the country, giving access to young people from organized leagues and unorganized play. The tournament kicks off in March and will be hosted in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Calif., San Diego, San Jose, Calif., Phoenix, Dallas, Chicago, Houston, Miami and New York.
About The Coca-Cola Company & FIFA
The Coca-Cola Company is one of the longest-standing corporate partners of Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), with a formal relationship since 1974 and an official sponsorship of FIFA World Cup(TM) that began in 1978. Coca-Cola has had stadium advertising at every FIFA World Cup(TM) since 1950. The Company renewed its sponsorship agreement with FIFA in November of last year. The partnership extension is for 16 years (eight years with an automatic eight-year renewal, subject to certain conditions), from 2007 until 2022.
The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company. Along with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company markets four of the world's top five soft drink brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite, and a wide range of other beverages, including diet and light soft drinks, waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, coffees and sports drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate exceeding 1 billion servings each day. For more information about The Coca-Cola Company, please visit the Web site http://www.coca-cola.com.
Note to editors: For a detailed schedule of the FIFA World Cup(TM) Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola, please visit http://www.fifa.com.