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Download PDF West Indies legendary all-rounder Sir Garfield Sobers will officially open the World Cup later Sunday at the culmination of a two-hour, 45-minute ceremony.
“It’s a great honour to declare the Cricket World Cup open. I’m taking it in my stride and I’m looking forward to the occasion,” said 70-year-old Sobers from his home in Barbados.
The former West Indies skipper said he was excited that cricket’s showpiece event was coming to the region for the first time.
“It will be phenomenal for the Caribbean, especially for those people who haven’t had the opportunity to see a Cricket World Cup. It will be a fantastic experience.”
The ceremony, which is being held at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium here, comes two days before the first match of the seven-week event takes place. That will see hosts West Indies facing Pakistan at Sabina Park on Tuesday.
The ceremony, which has been called “West Indian Energy”, will feature reggae star Jimmy Cliff as well as a cast and crew of around 2,000 singers, dancers and performers. Rupee, Shaggy and Fayann Lyons will perform the World Cup’s official song, The Game of Love and Unity.
The ceremony will begin at 2215 GMT.
The ceremony has a lot to live up to after the colourful 2-million-pound celebration in Cape Town four years ago, but at two and three quarter hours in length will exceed it by 45 minutes.
The choice of Sobers to open the tournament was “befitting of the greatest cricketer the world has ever seen”, according to Chris Dehring, the managing director of ICC Cricket World Cup 2007.
“It is because of legends like Sir Garry that today we have the opportunity to host this event,” he added.
A former all-rounder and West Indies captain, Sobers scored more than 8,000 runs and took 235 wickets in 93 Tests before retiring in 1974, just one year before the first World Cup took place.
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