FREIBURG (GERMANY): The World Cup Trophy began a tour of the host country on Tuesday, offering German fans a chance to see the most coveted prize in soccer before it is handed over to the captain of the winning team later this year.

The trophy's 5,000-km journey through Germany will include areas not near the 12 venues selected to host matches during the June 9-July 9 tournament.

Fans will be able to inspect the original trophy crafted by Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga and first used for the 1974 World Cup, which was also hosted by Germany when it won the title. The tour will make 21 stops in Germany in all 16 states.

FIFA said the tour was arranged to acknowledge the fans' contribution to the tournament and to thank the many volunteers involved in the game and the World Cup tournament.

Until recently, the original World Cup Trophy was seen only rarely — usually at official events such as the preliminary and final draws, the World Cup opening match and final, or at the winning team's reception upon returning home.

At all other times, the trophy is locked away in a bank vault. This year, for the first time in World Cup history, the trophy tour travelled around the world between January 6 and April 10, stopping in 31 cities and 29 countries. — AP

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