DARTMOUTH – The FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy is in Dartmouth this weekend for all to see. The championship will be played this summer in Canada in several cities, including Moncton.
Despite not winning the bid to host a game in Halifax, Mayor Mike Savage is encouraging fans to head to Moncton.
The trophy was unveiled at the Mic Mac Mall in Dartmouth to the applause of the Fairview Junior High girls soccer team.
FIFA and Coca-Cola is taking the trophy on a 12-city tour across Canada to drum up support for the soccer championship.
“We’ve seen a lot of excitement so we’re really happy,” said Sarah Gandoin, the FIFA Marketing Alliances Manager. “That’s exactly what we’re looking for because we want to build excitement prior to the tournament.”
With television screens showing video of women’s soccer in the winner’s tunnel at the exhibit and the music blaring, it was easy to get caught up in the excitement.
There’s plenty to do for visitors, including having fun on a fooseball table.
The Fairview Junior High team tried to score on the mechanically-operated goalkeeper. One girl did manage to score, but this keeper was stopping almost everything and may be the best goalkeeper they ever faced.
“Probably, which is a really bad thing to say because she’s a cardboard cutout,” chuckled Siophan Beattie, a player on the Fairview team.
Mayor Savage showed his talent as well – not on his first shot, but he found a way to score.
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“I think I may have bent the rules to get the goal, but what a great thing,” he said. “The kids are going to have a lot of fun out here while the exhibit is here.”
Nova Scotia Minister of Justice, Lena Diab was playing trivia and testing her soccer knowledge in the FIFA locker room.
“All the athletes in the province are excited,” Diab said. “Soccer’s gained a lot of importance here in the region.”
Halifax had a chance to host games, but failed to build a stadium. Mayor Savage is hopeful Maritimers will go to FIFA games in Moncton.
“Moncton will put on a good show,” he said. “And I encourage everyone to go and take part in this and support the games in Moncton.”
The exhibit at Mic Mac Mall is free and is open on Sunday from noon until 5 p.m.
“You can take your picture with the trophy,” said Gandoin, “It’s a very unique opportunity because so many players dream to see the trophy from that close and they don’t get the opportunity, so this time we wanted to bring the opportunity to the fans.”
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