After more than a decade spent planning,
building and preparing for the International Cricket Council's
Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 tournament, the two-month-long
event kicked off in traditional Caribbean style at the new Trelawny
Stadium near Montego Bay, Jamaica, on March 11.
A capacity crowd
of 12,000 at the venue and an estimated television viewing audience
of millions worldwide witnessed the opening ceremony called "West
Indian Energy from Plantation to Pop."
With 16
international cricket teams, heads of state, event officials,
sponsors, media and fans in attendance, the opening ceremony was
the largest international sporting event ever hosted in
Jamaica.
Chris Dehring,
managing director and CEO of ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies
2007, said the three-hour showcase of regional culture and
entertainment "represented the very best of the Caribbean and one
which befitted the Cricket World Cup."
Performers
included the Jamaica Military Band, Ireland's The Duffy Brothers,
Jamaica's Sean Paul, Alison Hinds from Barbados, Machel Montano of
Trinidad & Tobago, Kevin Lyttle from St. Vincent & The
Grenadines and South African reggae artist Lucky Dube.
Stilt walkers
playing cricket, fire eaters and Caribbean dancers added to the
pomp and pageantry of the ceremony.
Portia Simpson
Miller, Jamaica's prime minister, welcomed visitors and cricket
competitors to the region while Basil Smith, Jamaica's tourism
director, praised the local organizing committee for the
event.
"Jamaica is
pleased to have provided the platform for the region to showcase
its ability to host a major sporting event," Smith said. "We hope
this will serve as a launch pad for hosting other international
events."
A total of 51
matches will be played by on eight islands over the next seven
weeks. The semi-finals are set for April 24 in Jamaica and April 25
in St. Lucia with the final taking place on April 28 in
Barbados.
For schedules and
details, visit www.cricketworldcup.com.
To contact reporter Gay Nagle Myers, send e-mail to [email protected].