FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour brings Russia 2018 flavour to Saransk
As national teams fight it out for the remaining places at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, the winners’ trophy continues its long journey around the Host Nation.
The FIFA World Cup Trophy has already visited seven cities in Russia and on 6 October stopped off in one of the tournament's Host Cities for the first time. The trophy was unveiled during a special welcome ceremony in Saransk involving the Republic of Mordovia Head of Government, Vladimir Chulkov, and one of the city’s World Cup Ambassadors, legendary gymnast Alexei Nemov.
The trophy was on show for everybody to see and take photos of in a special marquee set up at the Mordovia Sports Complex, offering a taste of the upcoming festival of football.
On Saturday 7 October, an inclusive play park with a football pitch was opened in Saransk as part of the tour, built by the children’s charity Obnazhennye Serdtsa (“Naked Hearts”) with support from the Coca-Cola network in Russia. These parks are designed and built to be accessible to everyone, regardless of physical or mental disabilities, and will be opened in other Russia 2018 Hot Cities as well.
The FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola has already set off for its next destination: on 11 October, the trophy will be exhibited in Yaroslavl, while on 13 October it will visit another Host City of next year’s tournament, Kaliningrad.