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On Feb. 12, 2014, the FIFA World Cup Trophy made its sole visit to Canada with a stop in Toronto during its world tour. Carried aboard the Coca-Cola sponsored Danish Air Transport McDonnell Douglas MD-83 OY-RUE, the aircraft is appropriately adorned in a distinctive Coca-Cola colour scheme. The design features soccer balls on the forward and rear fuselage, and the World Cup on the tail. The FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola plane is specially designed to transport the trophy around the world. This year, the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour is travelling over 148,000 kms to 90 countries, 50 of them being new destinations, making this the largest tour ever. Canada is the 69th stop on the tour after Mexico City.
A media reception took place at the Cargo 2 facility of Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport, allowing Canadian soccer fans to get up close and personal with the Trophy. This is only the second time in history that this iconic trophy, made of solid 18-carat gold, has visited Canada. Demonstrations during the event included freestyle soccer performers from local Canadian Soccer Association members and Brazilian dancers. Delegates in attendance included FIFA representatives, Michael Bradley, new captain of the Toronto FC, Ryan Nelsen, Toronto FC head coach and former professional soccer player, Nicola Kettlitz, president of Coca-Cola Ltd., Wladyslaw Lizon, MP for Mississauga East – Cooksville, the Honourable Linda Jeffrey, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and Mayor Hazel McCallion, City of Mississauga. Mayor McCallion welcomed the World Cup and the entourage to ‘Mississauga International Airport’, just two days shy of her 94th birthday.
