A captivating opening musical ceremony to showcase ICC World Cup

Trelawny, Mar 11 (UNI) A captivating, colourful and musical extravaganza depicting the best of Caribbean's diverse culture will showcase the opening ceremony of the ninth edition of cricket World Cup here.

The two-hour and 45 minute show will feature stars like Machel Montano of Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica's Sean Paul, the first lady of soca music -- Alison Hinds from Barbados - and Saint Vincent's international singing talent, Kevin Lyttle.

Also performing on stage will be stars like 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 perform. There will be a guest appearance by the trio of Rupee, Shaggy and Fayann Lyons who jointly appear on the tournament's official song, The Game of Love and Unity.

This will be the perhaps the first occasion that all these artistes will perform together in front of a live audience. Over 2,000 singers, dancers and performers will be part of the ceremony.

Other items in the ceremony include dance sequences, stilt walkers playing cricket match with commentary by renowned cricket writer and commentator Tony Cozier -- a mass choir and fire blowers.

The display of stilt-walkers will be a tribute to the Caribbean cricket prowess over the years, from the great all-rounder Sir Garfield Sobers to the current West Indies captain Brian Lara, according to event manager for the ceremony Martin Lewis.

The opening ceremony is being hosted by Jamaica on behalf of all the nine host venues in the Caribbean and the show will be a fusion of Caribbean talent, traditions and ethnicities, Lewis said.

UNI