Today, the largest inflatable rugby ball of the world joins the Eiffel Tower, one of the world's famous landmarks in Paris, France. 25 metres long and 12 metres high, the New Zealand's rugby Ball was officially unveiled this morning at le Champ de Mars during sunrise at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. 

As a kick off to New Zealand's Rugby World Cup 2011 campaign, Helen Clark, the Prime Minister officially declared the opening of the giant rugby Ball. The other officials who attended the event included Sarah Dennis, New Zealand Ambassador in France, Paris Deputy Mayor, Mr Pascal Cherki, and Michel Dumont, Mayor of the 7th Arondissement. Some of the notable international media contingent that covered the event included TF1, TV5 Monde, APT, Phoenix Satellite TV France, Reuters, France Inter and RTL radio, over eight papers and magazines, AFP, online media, and European Press Society.

Expressing his delight over the event of official opening, George Hickton, Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive remarked, "This has given us the opportunity to profile 100% Pure New Zealand, the second most well known New Zealand brand after the All Blacks, in a key international environment. We want to tell international rugby fans that a trip to RWC 2011 is a trip to rugby heaven. And to show that as well as rugby they will have a unique tourism experience no matter where they, or their team, are staying and playing throughout New Zealand."