Cricket World Cup official soundtrack released

Trelwany, Jamaica, Mar 9 (UNI) In the land of reggae and rap, it is inevitable that cricket and music will come together. Thus the 2007 Cricket World Cup official soundtrack is now out.

Fittingly titled 'Caribbean Party', the 11-track album contains songs by many of Caribbean's biggest recording names and incorporates the official World Cup anthem 'The Game of Love&Unity' sung by Rupee of Barbados, Jamaican reggae star Shaggy and Faye-Ann Lyons of Trinidad and Tobago.

The album has already gone on sale across most parts of the world.

Songs from the compilation will sound across the 10 stadia hosting World Cup games across the region and at all official functions.

Acribbean Party will also be available online and from major music stores and stadiums in the West Indies.

Also featured on the album are Morgan Heritage, Tanya Stephens, Beres Hammond, Buju Banton and Elephant Man. A Bob Marley piece though, would have been a welcome addition.

Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council (ICC) will team up with UNAIDS, Unicef and the Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership on HIV/AIDS at CWC 2007 to highlight the situation of children and young people living with and affected by HIV.

More than two billion television viewers are expected to tune in to the seven-week long World Cup, which launches with the opening ceremony here on Sunday.

''The Spirit of Cricket is a special part of our game and is a concept that stretches beyond the boundaries of the outfield,'' said ICC President Percy Sonn.

A series of shorts have been produced, each lasting 30 seconds, which will feature leading players, including India skipper Rahul Dravid and Australian captain Ricky Ponting speaking about how HIV affects children.

UNI