England and Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge proudly welcomed the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy to London today as the world’s largest FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by The Coca-Cola Company rolled into Great Britain.

Sturridge, who is in top form for both club and country as he heads towards his first FIFA World Cup™, came face-to-face with the solid gold FIFA World Cup™ Trophy on its arrival in London. The Trophy is taking an unprecedented trip around the world spanning nearly 100,000 miles –- visiting 90 countries in 6 continents as part of the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour run by The Coca-Cola Company. 

Sturridge not only greeted assembled media and VIP guests at the custom-built FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola House in London, he also challenged them to compete in a 
Coca-Cola interactive football challenge; a live activation where participants raced a 3D projection of the footballer in a timed dribbling contest. The challenge is part of Coca-Cola’s wider commitment to active lifestyles and Movement is Happiness campaign which encourages active healthy lifestyles through physical activity.

The FIFA World Cup™ Trophy, which can only be touched by previous winners or Heads of State, is in the UK for seven days before moving on to the Netherlands.  Daniel Sturridge said: “I take great pride in welcoming the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola to Great Britain. It’s a great honour for me to have come so close to the iconic Trophy today and fingers crossed I’ll be even closer to it this summer! It was great to see the media so enthusiastic to kick a ball about and take part in the interactive challenge”. 

Coca-Cola are offering fans opportunities to get up close to the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy whilst it is travelling across the nation; the Trophy will be visiting Westfield W12 shopping centre in London on Friday 14th March from 10:00 until 21:00; George Square in Glasgow on Saturday 15th March from 10:30 until 18:30; and The Hayes in Cardiff on Sunday 16th March from 10:30 until 18:30. Fans who visit the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola will have the unique opportunity to have their photograph taken with the Trophy and enjoy a host of fun, football festivities.

The global 2014 FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola kicked off in September 2013 with an official launch ceremony at the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and has travelled to 77 countries prior to its arrival in GB. The FIFA World Cup™ Trophy is in GB until the 18th March before moving on to the Netherlands. The Trophy’s first stop in Great Britain was to Southend yesterday to surprise and delight participants of a Southend branch of sports charity StreetGames.

Brid Drohan-Stewart, Marketing Director, Coca-Cola Great Britain, said: “We were delighted to welcome Daniel Sturridge to the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola House. As a talented footballer and positive role model, he is the perfect partner for Coca-Cola and inspires all generations to lead an active healthy lifestyle. Daniel did a great job in getting our guests moving by encouraging them to take part in his interactive football challenge. We wish Daniel and his team-mates every success this summer at the FIFA World Cup™”.

“This is only the third time that the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour™ by Coca-Cola has travelled to Great Britain and it will be in the country for an unprecedented seven days – giving more fans than ever the opportunity to see the Trophy. The tour is a great way for us to kick start our support for the 2014 FIFA World Cup™. As Official Partner we are not only celebrating the anticipation for the tournament in Brazil, but using the world’s passion for football to motivate people to move more, more often.”

" We are extremely happy to bring the most iconic symbol in football to the world once again. This tour gives us the opportunity to share our passion for the beautiful game with fans across the globe who are given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the Trophy up close in their home country. I want to thank our long-term partner Coca-Cola for making this dream come true for many millions of football fans around the globe." FIFA President, Joseph S. Blatter

Former 1998 FIFA World Cup™ winner, Real Madrid star and FIFA ambassador Christian Karembeu who has travelled to GB with the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola, said: "Travelling around Europe with the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola has been an inspiring experience and we have all greatly looked forward to arriving in GB, a proud football nation with a rich history. Today's event has certainly lived up to the billing and it’s great to see so many people getting up close to the FIFA World Cup Trophy™".

For more information about Coca-Cola’s Movement Is Happiness campaign visit www.coca-cola.co.uk/movementishappiness

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For further information and photography, please contact:
Jack Mansell / Paul Anastasiadis
Tel: 07793 124 810 / 020 7544 3763
email: jackm@mcsaatchi.com / Paul.Anastasiadis@mcsaatchi.com

‘Coca-Cola’ and ‘Coke’ are registered trademarks of The Coca-Cola Company
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About the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy
The authentic, one-of-a-kind FIFA World Cup™ Trophy is awarded to the winning nation at each tournament.  The iconic trophy measures 36.8 centimetres (14.5 inches) high, weighs in at 6,175 grams (13.61 pounds) and is made of solid, 18-carat gold.  The winners retain it until the next tournament and are awarded a replica that is gold-plated, rather than solid gold.  The base contains two layers of semi-precious malachite, while the bottom side of the Trophy bears the engraved year and name of each FIFA World Cup™ winner since 1974.

About the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola
The Trophy Tour was developed through an exclusive partnership between FIFA and Coca-Cola, a FIFA Partner and one of the organisation’s longest-standing corporate partners. The Tour began its journey from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on September 12th 2013. The FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola will travel 149,576.78km around the world visiting 90 countries in 6 continents. This is the 3rd FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola and will last for 221 continuous days. From London, the Trophy Tour will move on to the Netherlands.

The Coca-Cola Company and FIFA
The Coca-Cola Company and has had a formal association with Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) since 1974 and an official sponsorship of the FIFA World Cup™ that began in 1978.  Coca-Cola has had stadium advertising at every FIFA World Cup™ since 1950 and is a long-time supporter of football at all levels, from grassroots to the FIFA World Cup™.

About Coca-Cola Great Britain
Coca-Cola Great Britain is responsible for marketing 21 brands and over 100 products to consumers across Great Britain, with a focus upon developing new brands and extending existing brands including Coca-Cola (recognised as the world’s most valuable brand). Other Coca-Cola Great Britain brands include Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Fanta, Sprite, Dr Pepper, Oasis, Glaceau vitaminwater, Oasis, Schweppes, 5 Alive, Lilt, Kia Ora, Relentless Energy Drink and Powerade. The Coca-Cola Great Britain portfolio is worth £2,095 million with value sales growth of 4.8% in the past year. Within this, the My Coke trilogy (Coca-Cola, Diet Coke and Coke Zero) is worth £1,162 million (Neilsen, w/c 20/04/13). Coca-Cola Great Britain is committed to developing innovative, responsible and sustainable initiatives that help protect the environment.

Coca-Cola Great Britain has supported sports charity Special Olympics GB for 35 years. Special Olympics Great Britain is the country’s largest provider of everyday, year-round sports training and competition for adults and children with learning disabilities, regardless of their ability. The charity encourages every individual to become more self-confident, while improving their fitness, health and wellbeing by taking part, training and competing in 24 Olympic sports.