The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas played host to one of the most famous championship trophies in all of sports yesterday when the 2014 FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour came to New Providence.

The tour, presented by Coca-Cola, featured the exhibition of the crowning achievement of “The Beautiful Game” and gave enthusiasts an opportunity to interact with the 13.6 pound, 18-carat solid gold trophy.

Anton Sealey, president of the Bahamas Football Association, said the association felt privileged to be included in the global celebration.

“Well certainly, we in the Bahamas Football Association feel privileged and we are obviously very proud that FIFA has seen fit to include us, because not every member federation of FIFA has been included on the tour, so we obviously feel very special.”

According to Sealey, the display of the iconic trophy should serve as a one-of-a-kind motivation for our student athletes. 

“As far as motivation for our kids, I think it is an amazing opportunity for them. They had an opportunity to see the trophy on display which is a tremendous honour itself. It is very timely because our youth league begins on Saturday so it will give them some inspiration, some motivation to perform at their best and to really get excited about the game once again,” he said.

“The excitement that has been generated is very good, so we are very pleased in the level of enthusiasm among the kids. This is an opportunity that not a lot of people get, so for our kids to be able to experience it is tremendous.”

The trophy arrived at Odyssey Airport aboard the Coca-Cola plane, followed by a courtesy call on Government House, where His Excellency Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes was the only individual allowed to hold the trophy. He was also presented with a glass enclosed miniature version of the trophy.

Next up on the schedule, scores of young soccer players and fans had an opportunity to have their pictures taken with the trophy when it was on display at the Atlantis resort yesterday afternoon.

The Bahamas’ portion of the tour concluded with a VIP Gala, also at the Atlantis resort.

Jan Schetters, FIFA representative for the World Cup Trophy Tour, said the Bahamas has continued the trend of festive welcomes on the tour thus far.

“It has been great, we were welcomed very well at the airport , then we went to Government House and His Excellency (Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes) was able to hold and touch the trophy and he was very happy that we came by. After that we had an event with youth footballers and also other consumers so we just tried to get as many people in the Bahamas to see the FIFA World Cup trophy, culminating with the gala,” he said. “So it was a packed day, but we at FIFA together with Coco Cola want as many people to share in this experience.”

Schetters said the tour, which is expected to reach 89 countries, was an initiative to bring the entire global football community together in celebration of the sport.

“The tour has been great, this is our ninth country. We started in Brazil and then we went to Tahiti, Fiji and then here we are at the Caribbean, the Bahamas is our second Caribbean nation and we are excited to be here in the Bahamas as well,” he said.

“So FIFA and Coca Cola decided, ‘let’s go on a world tour, let’s go and show the people the World Cup Trophy’ in all FIFA member associations. So we have 209 member federations and by 2022 we want to reach all 209. This year we are going to 89 countries and 52 of these, like the Bahamas, are new countries. Last time, we went particularly to Africa and this time we really wanted to try and see the Americas the most , South and North America and the Caribbean as well,” he said.

More than one million people are expected to interact with the trophy at various stops on the global tour which continues until the World Cup kicks off June 12 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

According to Coca-Cola, “the 92,000-mile tour will reach 89 countries in the run-up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. The route will include the first-ever pan-Latin America tour with events in 39 countries, as well as stops in 50 countries that have never hosted the trophy. In April, the tour will reach an estimated one million Brazilians on its final leg through the host nation’s 27 capital cities.”

The ceremonial trophy tour commenced September 12 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in the shadow of the internationally renowned “Christ the Redeemer” statue.

Next up on the tour, the trophy will visit Bermuda today.