Ecuadorian president greets World Cup trophy

Ecuador's President Rafael Correa holds up the World Cup trophy as Vice President Jorge Glass (2nd L) and Sports Minister Jose Francisco Cevallos (L) clap, during a ceremony at Carondelet Palace in Quito Jan 27, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

QUITO - Ecuador's President Rafael Correa Monday greeted the 2014 FIFA World Cup trophy, put on show here over the weekend as part of its world tour prior to the start of the games in Brazil this summer.

Correa, an avid football fan, stood on a balcony at the presidential palace of Carondelet in the capital Quito, and raised the trophy above his head during the traditional military change of guard held every Monday.

According to a statement issued by the Ecuadorian presidency, scores of people gathered at Quito's Independence Square witnessed the kissing twice of the trophy by Correa, accompanied by ministers and local authorities.

The trophy, made of 18k gold and 36.8 centimeters in height, was on exhibit at Carondelet Palace from January 25 through Monday.

The trophy arrived in Ecuador as part of an international 90-nation tour organized by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), and will next travel to Colombia and Venezuela. The last time the trophy went on tour was in 2006, when it also visited Ecuador.

Ecuador is one of the six South American teams that qualified for the 2014 World Cup, along with Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Uruguay and Brazil.

As part of Group E, Ecuador will play Switzerland on June 15 in Brasilia, Honduras on June 20 in Curitiba and France on June 25 in Rio de Janeiro.

The trophy tour kicked off on September 12, 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and returns on April 21, and the World Cup will take place from June 12 to July 13 in 12 Brazilian cities.