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BERMUDA | RSS PODCAST

Fans get glimpse of World Cup trophy

Spain's David Villa (centre) kisses the World Cup trophy after his country beat the Netherlands in the 2010 final in Johannesburg, South Africa. The World Cup trophy visits Bermuda today.

Football fans will have once in a lifetime opportunity to catch a glimpse of the iconic FIFA World Cup trophy during its whistle-stop trip to Bermuda today.The famous trophy, raised by celebrated players such as Diego Maradona, Lothar Matthaus and Iker Casillas, is visiting the Island as part of a global tour to promote the 2014 World Cup in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.The tour, facilitated by Coca-Cola, is taking in 92,000 miles and 89 countries across nine months.Football enthusiasts can get up close and personal with the trophy, which depicts two human figures holding up the earth, at Camden House in the Botanical Gardens from 3pm to 5.30pm.Bruce Barritt, general manager of John Barritt & Son, expects hundreds of people to turn out to enjoy the festive atmosphere and have their photographs taken with the coveted prize.“The trophy, its security team, and other FIFA and Coca-Cola officials will travel to Camden House after arriving on the Island on a special chartered plane,” said Barritt, whose company has been an authorised bottler of Coca-Cola since 1927.“Hundreds of members of the public and hundreds of youth football players will be ushered into Camden and have their chance for photos.“A photo system is being brought in so everybody will get a physical photograph souvenir to take away with them.”Barrit added that the event, featuring hospitality tents, a DJ and refreshments, would be attended by Premier Craig Cannonier, Sports Minister Wayne Scott and Bermuda Football Association vice-president Cal Blankendal.“The trophy is coming from the Bahamas and is spending quite a fair time in Latin American and the Caribbean as the World Cup in being held in Rio next year,” he said.“Bermuda’s a bit of a deviation for the tour but we’re very happy to be hosting them.“The trophy is the key thing — there will be lots of smiles and flashbulbs and all the rest of that.”After Bermuda, the tour continues through Central America and the Caribbean until November 7 and from there will travel to Africa, Middle East, Asia, South and North America and Europe.It will then return to Brazil in late April 2014, in time for the start of the World Cup.