World Cup starts touring the globe
Published: 22 September, 2009, 19:01
The 2010 FIFA World Cup is less than nine months away, with the trophy for the world’s biggest single-sport tournament ready to embark on an extended international tour.
The trophy, departing FIFA headquarters in Zurich, will visit 86 countries in 225 days – that’s three times as many states as the 2006 crown got around to seeing.
The coveted prize will go around the globe more than three times before reaching the World Cup host nation, South Africa, on May 4.
The Russians will get a chance to see the 18-karat gold piece in St. Petersburg on March 21.
Meanwhile, FIFA president Sepp Blatter says he is looking forward to a special tournament. On Tuesday he dismissed accusations that preparations in the RSA are behind schedule.
Everything is on course, he said, but there is one lingering problem that FIFA cannot help with – transportation. However, he believes the difficulties in getting players, officials and – perhaps most importantly – fans around such a vast country will be overcome.
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