SA Jeweller forced to cancel design competition by FIFA

Uwe Koetter Jewellers had wanted to present each player in the winning World Cup team with a piece of jewellery that had been designed by a South African as a lasting memento of their victory in South Africa.“It would seem that the biggest beneficiaries of this event will be FIFA themselves” says Johan Louw, Director of Uwe Koetter Jewellers. “Once again it would seem that history is repeating itself and South Africa is being exploited to profit those who live outside its borders”, he continues.FIFA explain in their letter, “It has been widely publicised and is generally known, that South Africa has been appointed as the host country for the FIFA World Cup. This event is already one of the most renowned and best publicised events to take place in South Africa. The tournament is a sponsored event and will take place under the auspices, and on behalf, of FIFA who are the overall organisers”.Whilst each and every South African is paying towards the event, either directly or indirectly, it has been decided by FIFA that only corporate sponsors are legible to profit from it.“It leaves a somewhat bitter taste in the mouth when an organisation the size of FIFA feels it is justified in preventing companies such as ours, from promoting a competition that would after all, only show to the world the originality and skills in jewellery design we have in South Africa”, adds Louw.FIFA’s letter continues, “This means that you are not permitted to run any promotions which in any way associate with the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa”.“We did not intend to flout any of the FIFA rules by running this competition and have, as a result of this letter decided to withdraw it. If, however, FIFA are prepared to reconsider their position, we will of course re-launch it. Perhaps it would have been useful if FIFA had made public, the restrictions associated with hosting the event. We certainly would not have intentionally contravened any such restrictions”, ends Louw.Contact Details:Bee LukeyUwe Koetter Jewellers072 040 9729marketing@uwekoetter.co.zawww.uwekoetter.co.za