World Cup Trophy arrives in Belize!

An eighteen karat solid gold trophy arrived in Belize this morning at the Phillip Goldson International via private jet and under heavy security. The arrival of the priceless FIFA World Cup Trophy was a highly anticipated event that was choreographed with precision. On hand were the Minister of Sports, International Football Federation (FIFA), the local Football Federation of Belize (F.F.B.) and Coca Cola executives. The trophy will be seen in ninety countries as it makes its way to Brazil for the World Cup 2014.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

The marriage of the world’s religion and arguably its most universal brand is a blissful union of sports and marketing, one that has seen both soccer and Coca-Cola transcend individual allure.  The FIFA World Cup Trophy, the most coveted token of victory in athletics, is truly a grail to behold.

Peka Adriazola, FIFA Representative

Peka Adriazola

“This is an eighteen karat, solid gold trophy.  It weighs over six kilograms,  It’s thirty-six point eight centimeters high and this is the original World Cup Trophy.  It was designed in the early 1970s after Brazil won the Jules Rimet Trophy, which was the previous trophy of the World Cup, for the third time in 1970 and kept it then.  The regulations at the time said that if you won three times you would keep the trophy.  Regulations changed after 1970 and now the original World Cup Trophy stays always with FIFA.  The world champion receives a replica.  The world champion lifts this trophy, so the one that you see the captains of the world champions lifting that’s the trophy.”

The gilded prize, designed by Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga, represents a pair of athletes holding up Earth in a shared moment of triumph.  This morning, as part of a nine-month tour across ninety countries, the FIFA World Cup Trophy arrived in Belize via a private aircraft.

Michael Bowen

Michael Bowen, CEO, Bowen & Bowen Ltd.

“Through a unique partnership between Coca-Cola and FIFA it makes this event possible and it’s amazing to be a part of these two strong brands and how they can reach out and touch families’ lives.  So, I’d like to thank Coca-Cola and thank FIFA for choosing Belize and bringing the World Cup to our country.”

Won by Spain in 2010, only the tenth nation to have its name engraved on the base, the trophy is headed for Rio Janeiro, Brazil, where the next FIFA World Cup Tournament will be staged.  Speaking on behalf of the Football Federation of Belize is president Ruperto Vicente.

Ruperto Vicente, President, Football Federation of Belize

Ruperto Vicente

“We are happy that they are able to bring this trophy to Belize and create a kind of excitement for our sport, you know.  It is a timely visit and a timely thing for us as we are developing our sport here in Belize.  Football is on the rise and football is about to achieve great things in this country and this trophy is only going to excite, create more excitement and add more excitement to what already exists in this country.  It is an award that every federation goes after and I must say that Belize in 2022 will go for this World Cup.  We’ll go after it because that is our aim.  We want to be a part of it, we want to be a part of history.”

In echoing that sentiment, Minister of Youth and Sports Herman Longsworth recognizes sports as a medium through which the country can develop.

Herman Longsworth

Herman Longsworth, Minister of Youth & Sports

“Sports is, in my opinion, the primary vehicle through which we can move our society out of where it is, football being the main, most popular sport in Belize, I believe, will play an integral part and maybe the primary role in moving that forward.  As the Minister of Sports I am very, very enthusiastic about what I see.”

The tour, which began in South America, will visit as many as ninety countries.

Coca-Cola Representative

Coca-Cola Representative

“We launched it on the twelfth of September in the host country Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro and over the next nine months we’ll be taking this trophy to ninety countries, which is a hundred and forty-nine thousand kilometer journey, which is around three and a half times around the circumference of the earth.  It certainly is the longest journey that the trophy’s been on and it’s all about everything that the honorable minister had mentioned earlier.  It’s about being inclusive and participatory and giving as many people the opportunity to have their experience with this FIFA World Cup Trophy.”

Isani Cayetano for News Five.