The Cup is here

The FIFA World Cup, on a World Tour to 83 cities around the globe, arrived in Kuala Lumpur Wednesday.

The FIFA World Cup trophy tour which started its 134,017km tour of five continents, made stops in Calcutta, Ho Chi Minh, Bangkok and Jakarta before arriving at the KL International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang on a special chartered flight Wednesday.

The authentic World Cup trophy, which is 36.8cm high and weighs 6.175kg is made of solid 18-carat gold with a base made from two layers of semi-precious malachite. It will be put on display for public viewing at the Mid Valley Convention Centre Thursday and Friday.

"We are extremely delighted with the response received thus far during the tour and we are expecting a rousing response from fans in Malaysia as well. During the trophy tour, fans will be given the chance to enjoy a rare close-up view of the authentic World Cup trophy," said FIFA spokesperson Lingling Liu after the trophy arrived at KLIA.

Meanwhile, Coca-Cola General Manager for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, Antonio del Rosario said about 10,000 fans will get a life-time opportunity to view and have their pictures taken with the trophy.

The World Cup Trophy Tour, a joint effort by FIFA and Coca-Cola is being organized for the second consecutive World Cup and will cover more fans and a bigger number of cities and country throughout the journey before reaching South Africa in May, he said.

"Fans can obtain tickets with purchase of McDonald's Prosperity Burger Meal in restaurants in the Klang Valley from now while stocks last and alternatively fans can also visit the Coke booth set up at Mid Valley," he said.

The trophy which started its journey from the FIFA headquarters on Sept 21, 2009, will travel across 83 cities, covering a distance of 134,017km or more than three times the circumference of the earth before reaching South Africa on May 4, 2010 and later presented to the winner of the country that wins the world cup finals that involves 32 countries.

In 2006, the trophy had only visited 31 cities from 29 countries and covered a distance of 102,570km.