Secretary of State John Kerry will join Vice President Joe Biden in delivering remarks at a FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour Ceremony at 3 p.m. on April 14, 2014, at the Department of State.
The actual trophy that will be awarded to the winner of this year’s World Cup soccer tournament will be on display to recognize the value of sports as a means to transcend national differences, encourage respect for diversity, and unite people of diverse backgrounds.
The State Department will be the first U.S. stop for the trophy on the global Trophy Tour presented by Coca-Cola preceding the FIFA World Cup™ tournament in Brazil, which begins June 12. The United States will be among the countries fielding a team in the tournament.
Before the trophy presentation, nearly 100 athletes from local youth soccer organizations will participate in a soccer clinic at the State Department with DC United players and former U.S. national team member Cobi Jones.
Cobi Jones is a Department of State Sports Envoy through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Since 2003, the Department’s ECA bureau has sent more than 220 U.S. athletes to more than 50 countries on sports envoy programs.
The remarks will be open to the press and streamed live on www.state.gov and will be tweeted live from @StateDeptLIVE, @USAenEspanol, @USAemPortuguese, and @USAenFrancais using #SportsDiplomacy and #TrophyTour.
Pre-set time for cameras: 10:30 a.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance.
Final access time for journalists and still photographers: 1:00 p.m. from the 23rd Street Entrance.
Following the event, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Evan Ryan and Sports Envoy Jones will be available for interviews.
Media representatives may attend this event upon presentation of one of the following: (1) a U.S. Government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense, or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo identification card, or (3) a letter from their employer on letterhead verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo identification (driver’s license or passport). For press inquiries, please contact PressDuty@state.gov or (202) 647-2492.
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