KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC):

Outstanding Caribbean persons who have made significant contributions to their respective countries and to regional development will be honoured during next year's Cricket World Cup.

The move, conceptualised by the Local Organising Committees along with the CWC 2007 Inc., will be see persons from a variety of backgrounds, including literature, dance, art, academia, music and sports, being honoured.

Man-of-the-match

These outstanding persons will be saluted in various ways throughout the tournament, most significantly by being invited to present the Man-of-the-Match award after each game.

"This region has many persons who have done it proud by their work in the community or at national, regional and even international level," Marvia Roach, CWC 2007 Inc.'s corporate communications director, said.

"The CWC family believes this is the prime opportunity for leading persons of West Indies heritage to be duly recognised - at home and in front of a television audience of two billion.

"This Cricket World Cup belongs to all the people of the Caribbean and we want to highlight some of those who have made this region a unique and successful part of the global society.

"It's their moment to be involved in the most significant event ever to grace these shores and certainly a time for them to enjoy the spotlight."

She added: "This could of course include the region's great cricketers and sportsmen but it will allow countries, which perhaps do not have persons in this category, to showcase other deserving nationals who have excelled and who are fine role models."

The Cricket World Cup bowls off on March 11 in nine Caribbean territories.