Japan heroine helps kick off first-ever Trophy Tour - FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP
Reigning FIFA Women’s World Cup™ champion Nozomi Yamago was among the guests of honour in Canada’s capital Ottawa this week as the first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola got underway.
Addressing an audience that included Minister of State (Sport) Bal Gosal and Canadian Women’s National Team coach John Herdman, Yamago spoke of the important role the Trophy Tour can play in encouraging young girls to take up the sport.
She said: “I am honoured to have been invited to help launch the first FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola, representing Nadeshiko Japan. For me as a footballer, the Trophy is a symbol of passion, celebration and national pride and I am pleased that people across Canada will have the opportunity to witness it ahead of the Women’s World Cup this year. The Women’s World Cup Trophy also represents the power that women’s football has to inspire social change. I hope that it will encourage many Canadian girls to join this beautiful game, just like the girls in Japan.”
Yamago played a very real part in the growth of women’s football in her home country and, as more than 41 per cent of all registered soccer players in Canada are female, and over 265,000 are youth players (18 and under), FIFA is hoping for an equally significant surge.
“As a leading sport nation, Canada has an incredible sporting system that offers an overwhelming number of ways for Canadians to enjoy sport and active living,” explained Canada’s Minister of State for Sport the Hon. Bal Gosal. “As we prepare to celebrate the single largest women’s sporting event right here at home, I hope Canadians take advantage of all of the opportunities they have to be involved in sport in Canada.”
The FIFA Women’s World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola will see the most important trophy in women’s football make 11 stops before finally reaching Vancouver – venue for the Women’s World Cup final.
Over the next two months, football fans from across Canada will have the chance to get up close and personal with the official competition Trophy, as the first-ever Women’s World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola travels over 13,000 km, and visits 12 cities including Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver.
At each stop on the tour, fans will get a flavour of the excitement to come in June by participating in the custom-designed Fan Experience, where they can go head-to-head with the Coca-Cola Ultimate Goalie, record a cheer for their favourite team at the Video Celebration, hang out in the FIFA locker room or TSN Sports Desk, play eight-person foosball and learn a trick or two from expert freestylers.
The Fan Experience guides guests through the Winner’s Tunnel, leading the way to the trophy display where fans can grab a “selfie” with the official Women’s World Cup Trophy. There will also be a special guest appearance from Official Mascot, Shuéme!
President of Coca-Cola Refreshments Canada John Guarino said: “Coca-Cola is excited to bring Canadians their first up-close look at the official FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy in our nation’s capital. Over the next two months, the Women’s World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola will travel from coast-to-coast, bringing Canadians together in their passion for women’s soccer and helping to inspire the next generation of female athletes.”
The FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola will visit 12 Canadian cities on the following dates:
April 3-4: Ottawa, ON
April 9-12: Montreal, QC
April 15: Quebec City, QC
April 18-19: Halifax, NS
April 24-26: Moncton, NB
April 28: Kingston, ON
April 30, May 1 & 3: Toronto, ON
May 6: Hamilton, ON
May 8-10: Winnipeg, MB
May 16-18: Edmonton, AB
May 22-24: Calgary, AB
May 29-31: Vancouver, BC
The match schedule for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ and tournament information can be found on FIFA.com.
You can also follow the FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca Cola on its dedicated website which can found in the related links.