New trophy tour kicks off in Munich

Football fans in five more European cities – Munich, Prague, Warsaw, Bratislava and Vienna – have the chance to get closer to European club football's blue-riband trophy and see the stars who helped create the competition's history, when the 2010 UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour, presented by UniCredit, gets under way this week.

Munich – the German city which has welcomed the trophy in triumph four times, thanks to FC Bayern München – hosts the first leg of the tour between 15 and 19 September. The following legs take the trophy to Prague, Czech Republic (24-26 September), Warsaw, Poland (1-3 October), Bratislava, Slovakia (8-10 October) and Vienna, Austria (14-17 October). In these four countries, the tour will also do stopovers in various cities en route to the capital, allowing supporters throughout to view the celebrated silverware.

The UEFA Champions League Trophy is coveted by many top players in the world, as well as by Europe's major clubs. Last year's tour was a resounding success, visiting Milan, Zagreb, Bucharest, Budapest and Sofia. More than 90,000 fans flocked to events to have their photo taken with the silverware, meet the famous players who have served as Trophy Tour Ambassadors, and experience the mystique of one of football's prime competitions.

This year, as in previous editions, well-known former players will give the trophy tour added lustre. Past winners of the UEFA Champions League such as Cafu, Giovane Elber and Vladimír Šmicer will be present as tour ambassadors to speak to the fans and media. Moreover, UniCredit has appointed another football notable who has graced the competition, Luís Figo, as the official UniCredit ambassador for the UEFA Champions League. He will join the other ambassadors in activities at the venues.

In addition to the trophy itself, original memorabilia, photography and videos from previous finals and matches will be displayed, bringing a considerable touch of football nostalgia and portraying the competition's path since it began as the European Champion Clubs' Cup in the 1955/56 season. A mini-pitch next to the Trophy Tour Village will feature grassroots events.

UniCredit will have the chance to showcase its own activities on this popular and high-profile event platform. UEFA also uses the tour to promote key values such as Respect and fair play to the public and fans.

Commenting on the rationale behind the trophy tour, David Taylor, CEO of UEFA Events SA, said: "The UEFA Champions League has a long and distinguished heritage and is the pinnacle of European club football. The trophy itself represents the ultimate prize of the UEFA Champions League. We are happy that by taking the trophy to this part of Europe with UniCredit, many passionate fans will have the chance to spend an unforgettable moment with the trophy. The trophy tour with UniCredit is a chance for us to give something back to all these fans."