FIFA trophy touches down in Jakarta town

The FIFA World Cup Trophy arrived at Jakarta’s Halim Perdanakusuma Airport on Sunday as part of its world tour organized by FIFA and Coca-Cola.

“This is the second time we’ve brought the authentic trophy to Jakarta and we are proud that we are able to help spread the spirit of the world cup here and hope it will boost the feeble spirit of our national soccer,” Coca-Cola Indonesia executive Olivia Lestari told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

“We want to give football fans the unique opportunity to have their picture taken with the most prestigious prize in world football and

to embrace the excitement surrounding the FIFA World Cup,” said Olivia.

The trophy last visited Jakarta in 2006.

World football’s greatest prize is on its longest ever global tour, with FIFA and The Coca-Cola Company taking the solid-gold trophy to 86 countries during a 225-day journey, allowing fans around the world to enjoy a rare close-up of the authentic trophy.

The tour, which began its journey from FIFA Headquarters on Sept. 21, 2009, will travel 134,000 kilometers around the world before arriving in 2010 FIFA World Cup host country South Africa on May 4, 2010.

Jakarta became the fourth stop in Asia after Kolkata, Ho Chi Minh, and Bangkok. The next destination is Kuala Lumpur.

The trophy arrived at the airport under tight security arrangements and is only allowed to be shown to journalists during a press conference on Monday and to the public on Tuesday at the Jakarta Convention Center.

“FIFA has arranged a special arrangement for the security of the trophy, working together with local police and security guards,” said Olivia.

Soccer fans will be able to see the trophy after purchasing Coca-Cola products. Visitors will be able to be photographed with the trophy.

The current FIFA World Cup Trophy replaced the Jules Rimet trophy, which was stolen in Brazil in 1983 and never recovered.

The Jules Rimet Trophy was awarded to the winner of the FIFA World Cup from 1930 to 1970, and the FIFA World Cup Trophy from 1974 to the present day.

The trophy stands 36.5 centimeters tall and is made of 5 kilograms of 18 carat (75%) solid gold with a base, 13 centimeters in diameter, containing two layers of malachite. It weighs 6.175 kg in total, and depicts two figures holding up the Earth

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