The ICC Cricket World Cup opened yesterday amidst fanfare, pageantry and splendour as the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium, Daniel Town, Jamaica, kick-started one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events.
By Sherwin Long and Indarjit SeurajThe event opened with a spectacle of music, dancing and colour, as several of the region’s top entertainers thrilled the crowd.
Among them were Machel Montano HD, Sean Paul, Arrow, Allison Hinds and Byron Lee and the Dragonaires.
Cricket World Cup (2007) managing director and CEO Christopher Dehring expressed pride that the Caribbean had been able to pull off the event.
“We take pride in our West Indian governments and our leaders who had the foresight and courage to undertake, along with the WI cricket board, this historic undertaking,” he said.
“(We take pride in) the local organising committees of nine sovereign countries who, in an unprecedented demonstration of unity and togetherness, came together to forge a single powerful force to get the job done.”
Dehring also noted that the West Indian people overcame significant hurdles in building the infrastructure to facilitate the event.
Grenada Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell said after the devastation of hurricanes Ivan (2004) and Emily (2005), it would have been easy for the country to cast aside the World Cup as trivial.
But instead his country used the Cricket World Cup to help in Grenada’s rebuilding quest after the devastating effects of the hurricanes.
“Cricket World Cup 2007 is not just a prestigious cricket tournament, it is the realisation of a great dream,” he said.
“It is the birth of a new dawn where Caribbean countries complete the difficult task of coming together as a harmonious and committed unit.”
He said the cricket would be inspired by the rhythm and soul of the West Indies, and visitors who came to the Caribbean to see the World Cup would experience the “intoxicating spirit and vibe of this region.”
Jamaica’s first female Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller welcomed participants and visitors alike, and urged them to bask in the Caribbean experience.
“I wish for every participant, every spectator, a splendid experience...54 splendid days of cricket, fellowship and culture exchange that will never be forgotten,” she said.
The tournament will last 47 days, ending with the final on April 28.
Reigning champs Australia will be competing along with the hosts West Indies, England, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Canada, Bermuda, Scotland, Ireland and Netherlands.
