Premier League trophy to go on world tour

The Premier League are attempting to stimulate further growth in overseas markets by today launching a three-year global tour of their league trophy.

The value of overseas television rights hit a new high last year with at least one third of the Premier League's TV money coming from foreign broadcasters.

The tour is being run by the Premier League alongside sponsors Barclays and will begin in Abu Dhabi, travelling around the Middle East before going on to Hong Kong and the Far East.

In seasons 2011/12 and 2012/13 the tour will go to North America and Africa.

On the tour, the trophy will be accompanied by four interactive domes, aimed at giving fans an experience of matches in England's top flight.

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said: "Global interest in the Barclays Premier League has never been higher, with demand for this type of additional experience coming from fans right across the globe.

"We want to show them what is at the heart of our competition: the trophy itself, as that is what every player and manager competes to get their hands on; the fantastic football as played by our 20 clubs, because that is what excites hundreds of millions week in, week out; and the history and tradition of English football, as that is what helps create the huge interest in the competition."

The Premier League's domestic TV rights deal is for £1.78billion over three years. Overseas rights are worth around £1.2billion.