Gala ceremony marks opening of World Cup
Bangladesh kept its date with a spectacular opening ceremony of the 10th ICC Cricket World Cup as a burst of colour, songs and the cultural insignias of the riverine South Asian nation heralded the beginning of the carnival called cricket.
While Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared the World Cup open, what drew attention of the television viewers of the cricket loving nations worldwide was the invasion of the cycle rickshaws on the ground that took for a ride all the captains of the 14 countries participating in the tournament.
Bangabandhu National Stadium, which was bathed with colours, resonated with songs and performances as the .$30 million opening ceremony progressed.
The opening ceremony had performances by some of the sub-continent?s and the world?s brightest star performers, including Chayanot, Sonu Nigam, Iraj Weeraratne, Runa Laila, Sabina Yasmin, Momtaz, Bryan Adams and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy.
An aerial cricket match combining acrobats and laser lighting was also a big draw for the sell out crowd that cheered lustily again and again.
ICC President Sharad Pawar said Feb. 17 2011 will go down as a ?historic day? as Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka host the 10th ICC Cricket World Cup.
Speaking before 21,000 people at the stadium, Pawar welcomed the invited guests, players, match officials, media and the people of Bangladesh to embrace the event and make sure it is the most memorable in history.
?Today is a historic day when the people of Bangladesh join India and Sri Lanka together to host the ICC Cricket World Cup, and make this tournament the most memorable yet,? said Pawar.
?Tonight we welcome the captains of the world?s top 14 teams to the opening ceremony of the 10th ICC Cricket World Cup. One of these captains before us tonight will stand in the magnificent new Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on 2 April and receive the ICC Cricket World Cup trophy. On behalf of the ICC, I wish you all the very best of luck,” he said.
?The ICC Cricket World Cup, our flagship event, provides the stage on which players have the rare opportunity to create legend and to write their own chapter in the history of this great sport. The greatest cricketers in the world will grace this event and I am sure that their ability, whether with bat or ball, will provide excitement and enjoyment for all cricket lovers.?
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 will be played across 13 cities in three countries over the next seven weeks starting at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium on Saturday and culminating with the grand finale in Mumbai on 2 April.
?To the players and the match officials we wish you good fortune and look forward to some excellent performances,? added Pawar.
The President also acknowledged the contribution and support of the Government of Bangladesh and, in particular, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, for her magnificent support she has extended to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.
He also praised the Government of India and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and also the President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa and his Government for their great support and cooperation.
Sheikh Hasina said: ?It is my great pleasure to be present at this colourful opening ceremony of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 at the Bangabandhu Stadium in Dhaka. We feel greatly privileged to co-host the cricket extravaganza in our beautiful country. I welcome the ICC officials, guests and spectators in this majestic ceremony.
?I would like to extend my thanks to the ICC for selecting Bangladesh to host the opening ceremony and eight matches in Bangladesh. My thanks go to the organisers and patrons for their immense labour to hold the ICC Cricket World Cup successfully.
“I congratulate my cricket-loving countrymen for their great enthusiasm and cooperation to make this event a grand success.
?Good luck to the players and I hope that fraternity among the nations will further be strengthened through this World Cup.?
