Football-‘Barclays Around the World in 90 Minutes’ contest on |10 February 2010

Football fans around the world are invited to take part in the Barclays Premier League match-day experience contest – called Barclays Around the World in 90 Minutes – which was launched worldwide on Monday. 

Speaking to the media yesterday afternoon, Barclays Bank (Seychelles) managing director Loganaden Sidambaram said: “Barclays has been the title sponsor of the Premier League for many years now, as well as the local sponsor of the Barclays League for the last three years, a sponsorship being renewed for another two years.

“Around the world, 13.5 million fans attend Barclays English Premier League matches live in England every season, it reaches an estimated 500 million homes in 211 countries, with fans going to extraordinary lengths to follow their favourite teams.
 
“Barclays wants to hear from Seychellois fans, who I know follow British football very closely, about how and where they meet up to enjoy their favourite teams’ matches, whether as individuals or as part of a group of fans.”

Fans can take part by first visiting the competition website www.barclaysfootball.com and in no more than 100 words explain why they feel their match-day experience is the best in the world.  Fans are also encouraged to support their entries by uploading videos and photos. All competitors have to be 18 years and over.

The competition will run from February 8 to March 22, with the winner of Barclays Around the World in 90 Minutes announced in April.

All entrants in the Barclays Around the World in 90 Minutes competition have the opportunity to win a trip for two to watch their favourite Barclays Premier League team play live in the UK during the 2010/11 season. The prize includes: travel, four-star hotel accommodation, tickets and transfers and £500 in spending money.

There will also be 25 runner-up prizes with each one getting a replica shirt of their favourite Barclays Premier League team.

The winner will be selected by the competition judging panel which comprises, among others,  former Chelsea and France legend Marcel Desailly, Liverpool's record goal scorer Ian Rush, and one of the best-recognised voices of the game, global football commentator Martin Tyler.

If the winner comes from outside the United Kingdom, he or she will get a trip to the UK for two people to watch a Barclays Premier League team of their choice.

 “The dedication and passion of the fans is what we want to hear about,” said Liverpool legend Rush.

Another judge, Vinit Chandra, chief executive of Emerging Markets, Barclays Global Retail Banking, said: “The Barclays Premier League has captured the imagination of football fans all over the world.  It is watched in over 200 countries and territories, and we know that week in and week out fans everywhere enjoy watching and listening to the Barclays Premier League, and have set up their own match day rituals and experiences that are unique to them. This competition offers fans the chance to tell us why they feel their experience is the best in the world.”