Mr Bill Egbe, President of Coca-Cola South Africa, will unveil the trophy on Tuesday, December 01, to local dignitaries and representatives from FIFA at a function to be held at the Waterfront later that day.
“For South Africans, this event is an important highlight in the build-up to the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™,” says
Onwell Msomi, Coca-Cola South Africa's General Manager: 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Project Office. “There is no turning back now. This is the prize that the captain of the winning team will lift at the end of the final match.
The arrival of the trophy will also spark off the festivities that precede the draw for this global football spectacular on Friday, 4 December. The 36.5 cm tall solid gold Trophy will be the centrepiece of this event.
The FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour started its journey around the world on 21 September 2009, at a launch in Zurich, Switzerland. FIFA President, Sepp Blatter and The Coca-Cola Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Muhtar Kent accompanied it on its first steps of the journey of 225 days covering 86 countries. Its first destination from the FIFA Headquarters was Cairo, Egypt.
This is the first time ever that the Trophy will visit all 53 countries on the continent enabling African people to see it up close and to become excited about the reality of the FIFA World Cup™ tournament being hosted on the African soil.
“Football is biggest sport in the world and the passion for the game in Africa is at fever pitch. It gives our business the best platform to connect with fans everywhere Coca-Cola does business,” says Bill Egbe, President of Coca-Cola South Africa.
“We are proud that we are giving fans the rare opportunity to see the official FIFA World Cup™ Trophy - which may only be touched by heads of state and national teams and coaches who have won it.”
The Trophy will arrive in Lesotho on 30 November 2009 before flying out in a specially charted plane to Cape Town.
“Tight security will be in place to protect this valuable prize. It is Coca-Cola's objective to ensure that as many people as possible can see the Trophy from close range and even be photographed with it,” says Msomi.
Following the Cape Town Draw on December, 04, the Trophy will continue on the remainder of its whirlwind tour around the world, eventually touching down in 86 countries in 225 days.
“The FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour forms part of the largest global integrated marketing campaign in the history of the
Coca-Cola Company,” says Msomi. It is being rolled out over 206 markets across the world to celebrate the Open Happiness Campaign launched earlier this year.
“The campaign invites people to express their optimism and passion for football through active dance celebrations as excitement builds up for the greatest single-sport spectacle on the planet,” says Msomi.
In Cape Town, Coca-Cola is sponsoring a football-themed interactive programme at the V&A Waterfront. Included in the activities that will continue until December 06, will be live performances at the Amphitheatre, signing sessions by the Coca-Cola Football Ambassadors and various interactive activities such as the human foosball , style my coke and PS3 gaming.
An exciting open street party will be held in Long Street, Cape Town, on December 04. The FIFA World Cup™ Draw will be shown live on giant screens from both the Long Street part and the V&A Waterfront.
Coca-Cola has also created three commercials to celebrate this campaign. The first of the three - titled ‘Roger Milla' - tells the story of how Roger Milla, the first African to ever score in a FIFA World Cup™ , inspired footballers to celebrate goals in a unique manner.
Somalian-born, hip-hop sensation, K'Naan, has specially recorded an African-inspired track, a remix of ‘Wavin Flag', as the anthem of Coca-Cola's 2010 FIFA World Cup™ programme. The track will be used as the music element throughout the entire campaign including the soundtrack on all TV commercials.
In line with celebrating Africa's unique rhythm, Coca-Cola will also be introducing elements such as ‘The Coca-Cola Best Player Celebration Award', which will recognise the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Best Goal Celebration.
“Football, especially during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ can inspire people to ‘let go' a bit and express their passion in a spontaneous, physical way,” says Msomi. “They can demonstrate their happiness by cheering, jumping for joy or even dancing.”
“Our inspiration for the entire campaign and programs will give fans an outlet for their celebrations through our music, interactive programmes, voting for the best celebration by a player during the FIFA World Cup™ and more. We are proud that the campaign represents the uniqueness of Africa,” says Msomi.
