Rome ready for trophy handover

Since the 1997 UEFA Champions League final in Munich, it has become an established tradition for the previous season's champions to formally return the UEFA Champions League trophy to UEFA at a special ceremony and for the cup then to be handed to the host city to be put on display until the final.

Solskjær ambassador
This season's cup handover ceremony will be held today at 12.30 local time at the Sala Protomoteca at the Campidoglio in Rome. The 2008 champions Manchester United FC, represented by their ambassador Ole Gunnar Solskjær, will formally give back the UEFA Champions League trophy to UEFA President, Michel Platini. He will then pass it to the Mayor of Rome, Gianni Alemanno, for the city to keep and show to the public until the UEFA Champions League final is played at the Stadio Olimpico, on Wednesday 27 May from 20.45 local time.

Conti present
The President and Vice-President of the Italian Football Federation, Giancarlo Abete and Demetrio Albertini, the ambassador for this year's final, former AS Roma and Italy star Bruno Conti, and Emilio Di Toro representing CONI, the Italian Olympic Committee, will be among the renowned personalities attending the event.

Media requests
Media representatives wishing to attend the cup handover ceremony in Rome should send their requests via email to press@figc.it.