President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades welcomed on Friday the FIFA World Cup Trophy that stopped in Cyprus.
The FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola is a rare opportunity for fans to see the Original Trophy up close and have their experience captured with a photograph. It’s an exclusive experience since the Trophy is otherwise only displayed at the FIFA World Football Museum in Zurich, during the FIFA World Cup Final Draw and at the final match of every FIFA World Cup, the FIFA website said.
In September 2017, the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour kicked off in Moscow, Russia. The tour stayed in Russia until December before going global to cover over 50 countries across six continents. It returns to the host country in May just ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.
The welcoming ceremony took place at the VIP lounge of the old Larnaca International Airport. The president raised the trophy high as only state leaders and footballers who have won the Trophy are allowed to touch it.
He welcomed the trophy to Cyprus, saying it is one of the most recognizable symbols of sport internationally, has been conquered by world-renowned national teams and has passed through the hands of legendary coaches and footballers who have competed with passion and dignity for the national emblem of their shirt.

The President noted that “the trophy symbolizes the power of victory and the universality of the football and is a symbol of excellence, achieved with determination, discipline and dedication. “This is precisely why I consider the choice of Cyprus among the 50 countries of six continents to host the original trophy of the World Cup, “a great and special honour for our homeland”, he added.
Marketing Partnerships Manager at FIFA  Lucas Rachow thanked the Government of Cyprus as well as the Cyprus Football Association for hosting the trophy on Friday and for the warm welcome the FIFA delegation has received.
“Today people in Cyprus will have once in a lifetime opportunity to see the FIFA World Cup Trophy is person. It is a dream that many footballers have to one day lift this trophy and we hope that we can inspire the youth here in Cyprus to dream that one day may win this trophy”, he said.
The trophy was transported to the GSP Stadium in Nicosia were at 1900 local time, football fans who have won entrance tickets through competitions will have the opportunity to see it and take photos with it.

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