Standing 36 centimetres tall and weighing six kilogrammes, the original 18-carat gold FIFA World Cup trophy arrived in Guyana on Wednesday, creating a frenzy among those privileged to get up close and personal with the iconic sculpture of football.
Onboard a specially chartered aircraft, the sparkling trophy, football’s most coveted prize, landed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport precisely at 09:00h after a 20-minute flight from Suriname, one of its 22 stops on the Caribbean tour.
As CJIA staffers, local journalists and curious on-lookers waited patiently to get a glimpse of the most sought-after football accolade, an aged and bald gentleman, donning a pair of white gloves, emerged from the aircraft carrying the Italian Silvio Gaszzaniga’s designed gold trophy, carefully concealed in a black suitcase.
Immediately after, a press conference was convened in the Arrival Lounge of the airport, following which the solid gold trophy was unveiled by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony to rapturous applause.
The trophy, which has the names of the World Cup winners inscribed on the base, remained in a display case throughout the day. It is understood that touching the trophy is a right only bestowed on the Head of States of any given country and the World Cup winners.
Caribbean connection
The trophy is on its penultimate leg of the Caribbean tour, which ended Thursday in Trinidad and Tobago.
Former Trinidad and Tobago, Manchester United and Aston Villa forward, Dwight Eversley Yorke, in his capacity as a FIFA Brand Ambassador, said: “It’s a privilege to be here in Guyana as a Brand Ambassador of FIFA. Of course our major sponsor in Coca Cola making this possible.
“Touring around the Caribbean and seeing the looks on people’s faces over the past few days tells me a lot. This is a special day because it’s in Guyana- a developing nation in the world of football,” the 41-year-old Yorke said.
He added, “But on a serious note, I’m sure that with the trophy being in this country it will encourage young people to continue to progress in the world of football and bring people together because football is such a global sport. As a Brand Ambassador, I’m very privileged by the fact that I was given the opportunity to represent not just my country Trinidad but the whole of the Caribbean.”
Longest tour
This is the third time that the original FIFA World Cup trophy is going on tour around the world.
Following tours in 2006 and 2010, the 2013/2014 tour will visit 89 countries during its 267-day duration.
The tour began its journey in Rio de Janeiro on September 12, 2013. Departing from the famous Christ the Redeemer statue, the FIFA World Cup Trophy will travel around the world for nine months before returning to the country that will host the 2014 FIFA World Cup, neighbouring Brazil.
