Percy Sonn Cricket World Cup Opening Ceremony Speech

To the Prime Ministers of Jamaica and Grenada, the Governor General of Jamaica, the Chairman of the West Indies Cricket Board, the Managing Director and CEO of ICC CWC 2007, the many distinguished former and current players, commercial partners, officials and guests, the supporters here in this wonderful new stadium and the millions more watching this telecast, it is to me so highly appropriate that Cricket World Cup 2007 is being held in the Caribbean.

It is special to stand before you as ICC President of the opening of the first World Cup in this region. The West Indies must rank among the most idyllic, certainly romantic, and definitely stunningly aesthetic of cricketing venues on the globe. Together with the richness of its cricketing culture, and a history of cricketing greats, both past and present, the West Indies have come to symbolise to the world so much that is good and progressive about humanity. The West Indies won the World Cup in 1975 and 1979.

These teams popularised our sport greatly and today we are truly global sport with 97 members in the ICC family. The greats of the West Indies teams evoked so much passion and love from the Caribbean and the world that it continues to sustain much in us in a world so greatly in need of hope, of light and love.

The fact that this is the last CWC before the centenary of the ICC in 2009, makes it even more special that this event is held here in the West Indies.

As with South Africa in 2003, all nations rallied to ensure that the West Indies produce the best Cricket World Cup ever. This shows the spirit of unity that binds us all through the game that we serve, for one nation's honour is shared with all in the great collective called cricket.

In the same manner that the West Indies represent unity in diversity, so the 16 teams participating reflect a wide diversity. They have been drawn from all five of our regions - Africa, the Americas, Asia, East Asia Pacific and Europe and represent a profile of cricket worldwide. The tie that binds all is that which we in the ICC call the Spirit of Cricket, where all play hard and play to win, but also seek to play the right way, respecting your team mates, the officials, the supporters, and your opponents. In short, honouring the ethos of the game under all circumstances.

Furthermore, cricket will, through the players and officials wearing coloured ribbons during matches, as well as the final, demonstrate its social responsibility to publicise the issues of those affected by HIV and AIDS, and also our support for UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund.

I ask that all of you - players, officials, spectators - enjoy the next 49 days of Cricket World Cup, and make this a celebration of all that makes this game great - its excitement, its diversity, its sportsmanship and, yes, its spirit.

That way, on 28 April, when one of these 16 teams lifts the ICC CWC trophy, all can say that they have played a part in making our sport even stronger.

Thank you all.