When flag bearers parade onto a World Cup field, it's the official start of a battle royal between two teams who've played their hearts out to gain a spot in the FIFA World Cup football competition.
This year, some 288 teens from 21 countries will travel to South Africa to bear the flags of champion teams at the 2010 FIFA World Cup competition, which arguably is the world's largest sporting event.
Jamaica will be sending 12 teens to perform flag-bearing duties in South Africa, and is the only country in the Caribbean region participating in the Flag Bearer Programme.
The programme is one part of the sole and exclusive assets of the Coca-Cola Company and their partnership with FIFA for this year's World Cup.
The other flag bearers will come from Mexico, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Tunisia, Greece, Japan, Serbia, Italy, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, France, Spain and England.
"Through this programme, Coca-Cola will be offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for teens to carry the flags of the participating countries onto the pitch at the 2010 FIFA World Cup matches, and will host the participants for four days and three nights," explained Chris Hardy.
The Jamaican flag bearers will perform their duties at two big ticket matches, namely Brazil vs Ivory Coast and Italy vs Slovakia.
Hardy, who is the country manager for Coca-Cola Jamaica, added that the teens will not only be participating in the matches, but will be fully immersed in South African culture and get "a real, full experience of the country".
While this is so, the 288 children will not be unsupervised in South Africa, as Coca-Cola International is very strict on chaperone requirements, roles, and necessities. Locally, Hardy has added another element to the plan, which would be a representative from the ministry of education.
"We've engaged the ministry of education to participate with us in this exciting journey and Andrew Francis from the ministry will be joining us in South Africa as one of the chaperones for the 12 Jamaican teens who will be flag bearers," Hardy said.
In outlining chaperone roles, Hardy mentioned that "the chaperone is an integral part of the event team and critical to the success of the flag bearer programme". He said that they will be in charge of the teens from the time participants depart their home country until they are reunited with parents and guardians.
"The teens cannot and will not be unaccompanied at any time. It is the responsibility of the chaperone to accompany them and watch over them in the hotel, at the stadium, during the tours, while taking part in leisure and sport activities and at all other times," Hardy remarked.
All flag bearers will also be covered under participatory medical insurance. This insurance will cover the teens from the time they depart until the time they return to their home country. The all expense paid trip to South Africa will include visas, travel, accommodation, food, and transportation while in South Africa. The participants will also see themselves going on nature tours, safaris, and museum visits, to complete the experience Hardy mentioned earlier.
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