Mumbai : Young people across India will get a chance to experience what it is like to take part in an ICC Cricket World Cup this week when mini versions of the tournament are held across the country.
Schools events will take place across the eight host cities in India, as the countdown clock moves ever closer to the start of the ICC Cricket World Cup which begins on 19 February next year.
The schools tournaments will be held in Mumbai (14-15 December), Nagpur (14-15 December), Mohali (14-15 December), Kolkata (14-15 December), Ahmedabad (17-18 December), Delhi (17-18 December), Chennai (17-18 December) and Bengaluru (17-18 December).
In addition, young adults will receive HIV education and awareness sessions both at school and during the tournaments as part of the Think Wise initiative, a joint partnership between the ICC, UNAIDS, UNICEF and the Global Media AIDS Initiative that has been running since 2003.
The initiative aims to raise awareness around HIV prevention and eliminate discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS.
These awareness sessions will be supported by Stumpy, the official mascot of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, who will interact with participants and distribute official memorabilia.
India batsman and Think Wise champion Virender Sehwag said: ?I am very excited about playing in the ICC Cricket World Cup next year and it is great to see that young people across the country are getting involved in the tournament as well.
?I know that I was inspired to play the game when I watched the World Cup when I was younger and hopefully some of the players taking part in the schools tournaments may go on to play for India at a future event.?
The focus for the Think Wise campaign for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 will be ?Get the Facts, Protect Yourself?.
The campaign will encourage young people to be informed, take appropriate action to prevent HIV infection and stand together against stigma and discrimination often facing people living with HIV and AIDS.
Further details on what activities will take place as part of the Think Wise partnership will be announced in due course.
Schools and community programmes ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 are also being delivered in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.