NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 24 – The FIFA World Cup has officially started its African tour from Egypt. 
The Trophy touched down in Cairo, Egypt after the official kick off by FIFA and Coca-Cola officials from Zurich, Switzerland last Monday 21st September.
The trophy is on a 70-day tour of 52 African nations.
“Now that the Trophy has begun, its tour from Egypt, it will only be 49 days before fans in Nairobi can see it up close and candid,” said Ms. Pamela Mutua, Coca-Cola Senior Franchise Brand Manager.
The first leg of the tour will end in Cape Town, South Africa, on December 3 just before the 2010 FIFA World Cup Finals draw.
The second leg of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola will see the trophy visit additional countries across the globe from January to April 2010.
During the Trophy Tour, fans will be given the chance to enjoy a rare close-up view of the authentic FIFA World Cup Trophy.
They will have a chance to take souvenir pictures with the trophy, view a special 3-D movie showcasing memorable moments of the FIFA World Cup and participate in interactive displays.
In 2006, the tour visited 31 cities in 29 countries, covering 63,734 miles (102,570 kilometers) with millions of fans around the world getting a chance to have a closer look at football’s most famous prize.
The trophy is awarded to the winning nation at each tournament. It measures 36.8 centimeters (14.5 inches) high, weighs in at 6,175 grams (13.61 pounds) and is made of solid, 18-carat gold.
The winners retain it until the next tournament and are awarded a replica that is gold-plated, rather than solid gold. The base contains two layers of semi-precious malachite, while the bottom side of the Trophy bears the engraved year and name of each FIFA World Cup winner since 1974.
