ICC CWC 2007 opening ceremony a spectacle to behold
Kaieteur News
March 11, 2007
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 series officially opens today in Jamaica .
The opening ceremony signals the official start of the tournament and is being hosted by Jamaica on behalf of all nine host venues in the Caribbean . The ceremony is expected to reflect not only the vibrant energy of the region but also its mixed ethnic heritage, showcasing the various global and indigenous cultural influences that abound.
A technical team along with set builders, television-production staff and other logistics personnel all worked around the clock to complete the installation and set-up for the Caribbean extravaganza.
The 165-minute show dubbed “West Indian Energy” will feature superstar young guns like Machel Montano of Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica's Sean Paul, the first lady of soca Allison Hinds from Barbados, and Saint Vincent's international singing talent, Kevin Lyttle.
They will all share the stage with seasoned veterans such as Byron Lee, Third World , Arrow and Jimmy Cliff as well as David Rudder. South African reggae artiste, Lucky Dube, and The Duffy Brothers from Ireland will also be featured.
There will be a guest appearance by the trio of Rupee, Shaggy and Fayann Lyons who will jointly appear on the tournament's official song, “The Game of Love and Unity”.
The opening ceremony will be the first occasion that all three artistes will perform together, in front of a live audience.
The participants have been in rehearsal for more than three months and their presence represents the creative output of some of the Caribbean 's most talented producers and choreographers with a cast and crew of over 2,000 singers, dancers and performers.
All of the nine host venues will be represented in the celebration of the spirit of the Caribbean at this signature event.
The display will include a cast of stilt-walkers paying tribute to the Caribbean's cricket prowess over the years, from the great cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers, to the region's current star batsman and West Indies captain, Brian Lara.
The ceremony is expected to begin at 5:15 p.m. and will be broadcast throughout the Caribbean .