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[Awards Review]
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▶ World Cup Trophy to Tour Korea, Bolster Interest in Soccer Event
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[2002/04/09 ]
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Seoul, April 8 (Yonhap) -- The coveted FIFA World Cup trophy will begin its tour of Korea next week, the Korean organizing committee for the 2002 World Cup (KOWOC) said Monday.
KOWOC said that the FIFA World Cup Experience will be launched Thursday afternoon to coincide with the 50-day countdown for this year's World Cup opening ceremony May 31. The tour is sponsored by FIFA, KOWOC and official partners. FIFA is expected to provide 2 billion won to cover part of the expenses.
Lim Byung-taik, KOWOC director-general for public relations, said that over 400 guests will be on hand for the start of the trophy tour ceremony, including Guus Hiddink, the Korean soccer team's head coach, Hong Myung-bo, the squad's senior defender, German striking legend Juergen Klinsmann and a representative of FIFA.
Ranking government and KOWOC officials, volunteers and members of youth soccer clubs will also be on hand to see the trophy begin its 42-day journey of Korea's 10 host cities. The FIFA trophy had been exhibited around Japan before being brought to Korea.
Following the ceremony in Seoul Thursday, the trophy will be on display for two days in each host city starting with Incheon (April 16-17). It will then be moved to Daejon (April 20-21), Gwangju (April 23-24), Jeonju (April 27-28), Seogwipo (May 4-5), Busan (May 11-12), Ulsan (May 14-15), Daegu (May 18-19), Suwon (May 21-22) and Seoul (May 28-29).
Citizens in each of the cities will be able to take souvenir photos with the trophy, participate in various activities sponsored by FIFA's official partners, and attend a show of Spheriks, the game's official mascots.
Street festivals, music concerts and a Gold Emblem Treasure Hunt event where winners of soccer related quizzes will get an opportunity to win a gold emblem will also be on offer.
The FIFA World Cup trophy was created in 1974 by Italian sculpture Silvio Gazzaniga and is 36 centimeters tall, weighs 5 kilograms and is made of 18 carat gold.
yonngong@yna.co.kr |
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