July 27, 2006
ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 Gives India ‘A Taste of the Caribbean’
New Delhi, India – The India launch event to promote ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 took place in New Delhi today (July 27, 2006), with a full-fledged celebration of the tournament which will be held in the Caribbean from March 11 - April 28, 2007. Hosted by the Global Partners- LG Electronics, Pepsi, Hutch and Hero Honda in association with ICC CWC WI 2007 Inc., the evening included a stage presentation to unveil the CWC 2007 logo, mascot and tournament schedule.
The presentation gave invited guests a taste of what the nine Host Venues in the West Indies will have to offer when they host one of the world’s largest sporting events for the first time.
Speaking at the event, CEO of Nimbus Sports, the representative of the Global Partners for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, Digvijay Singh said: “The four Global Partners have been sponsors of ICC Cricket for the past two Cricket World Cups. They have supported this ICC event over the years and their association has evolved and grown stronger. And we are sure the ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 is going to be a huge success both for the Global Partners and the ICC.”
A delegation from the Caribbean, led by Prime Minister of Grenada and Chairman of the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) Sub-committee on Cricket, Dr. the Right Honourable Keith Mitchell attended the ceremony. Prime Minister Mitchell delivered the feature address and emphasised that the Caribbean was delighted and excited to be hosting ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 and to be welcoming thousands of cricket supporters from India.
“I can assure you that not only will you see good cricket at modern stadia but you will also enjoy the beauty of the Caribbean. I believe that even after you have forgotten the results of the matches, you will still remember and treasure your unique Caribbean experience,” said the Caribbean leader.
Updating the audience on the plans for the tournament, Managing Director & CEO of ICC CWC 2007, Chris Dehring said India is an extremely important market to ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, in multiple respects: as incumbent host of the next Cricket World Cup, as home to the largest television audience in world sport and as the base for the tournament’s four Official Global Partners and two of the Official Sponsors.
“To show our commitment to strengthening this relationship with India, we are working with the Global Partners to highlight the Cricket World Cup brand in India and offer a taste of what fans can expect in the Caribbean next year,” Dehring explained.
“We want to make sure that the Indian public is fully informed and excited about the event. We also wish to encourage as many Indian fans as possible to travel to the Caribbean for the best Cricket World Cup ever.”
Dehring urged Indian fans to take advantage of the last few days for ticket applications which close on July 31. This is first phase of the Ticketing process.
The ICC CWC 2007 WI Inc. CEO disclosed that India has, so far, recorded the seventh-highest number of applications. At the end of June 2006, there were applications from 114 countries with the top ten being: the UK, USA, Barbados, Australia, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, India, Canada, South Africa and Guyana respectively. He also added that there have been more than a thousand applications for “Follow A Path” packages from India fans. This is the most by fans of any of the 16 Participating Nations for such packages which would allow them to follow their team – in this case India – from Group Stage matches right up to the Final, if the said team advances that far.
CEO of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Malcolm Speed also addressed the specially invited guests and noted that, based on the contribution that the West Indies had made to world cricket, their hosting of the ICC Cricket World Cup was long overdue.
“Given the passion that West Indians have for cricket and the tremendous commitment shown so far by the governments and people of the region, we are confident that they will host an excellent Cricket World Cup,” Speed said.
The entertaining and informative multi-media presentation at the India brand launch highlighted the Caribbean as a cricketing and tourism destination through audio-visual excerpts and sampling of its unique cuisine and culture. The cultural presentation included exciting performances by a steel band, calypso dancers as well as David Rudder, the singer who is renowned for his composition and rendition of the West Indies Cricket Anthem, “Rally Round the West Indies”.
Led by Board Chairman, Chris de Caires, a three-person delegation from the Barbados Local Organising Committee (LOC), hosts of the Final and a Super 8 Round of matches, was also present at the brand launch.
The other Host Venues for ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 are: Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines (warm-up matches) and Trinidad & Tobago.
