Tony Becca, Contributing Editor

Tony Becca

FOUR YEARS ago, Chris Dehring, managing director and chief executive officer of ICC CWC West Indies 2007, stood up in a plush Johannesburg hotel and to a cheering gathering promised the world the best World Cup ever in four years time. The World Cup experience involves the opening ceremony, the action in the middle, the experience away from the cricket fields, and because he had no control over that, Dehring did not promise the best cricket of all time at the World Cup.

What Dehring meant when he promised the world the best World Cup ever was an opening cere-mony second to none and unfor-gettable, an experience away from the cricket fields that would last for a lifetime, and one that would entice some of the region's guests to come back again, and as far as the opening ceremony is concerned, today is the day.

In other words, it is time for Dehring and his team, Jamaica, and the West Indies to deliver, and not only to the world as promised but also to the local fans who areexpected to pack the stadium to capacity and to present a lovely and exciting backdrop to the historical event.

Show time

After months of rehearsing and practicing, it is show time, the action gets under way at the new and beautiful Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium at 5.15 p.m., and for three hours cricket fans and others around the world, including a cross-section of people in Jamaica and the West Indies, will be watching it live on television.

Produced at a cost of just more than US$2.5 million, the opening ceremony will be a tribute to Caribbean life - the best of Caribbean life, with most of them coming from Jamaica, it will parade a cast of some 2,400 people, including musicians, artistes and dancers, and it promises to be just what Dehring said it would have been four years ago - an experience to cherish and to remember.

Leading the galaxy of artistes in a showpiece in which all nine countries hosting World Cup matches have contributed money and talent will be the region's best, plus a few of the best from South Africa.

From Jamaica, for example, will be Jimmy Cliff, Beres Hammond, Shaggy, Sean Paul and Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, from Trinidad and Tobago, the land of calypso and carnival, the group will include David Rudder and steel band maestro Bugsy Sharp, and from South Africa the special guests will include Lucky Dube and a group of drummers known around the world as Drum Caf?.

"It is a nice production," said Robert Bryan, head of the Local Organising Committee yesterday. "It should be something that the region will be proud of. Everything has come together nicely. For those who see it - the dancing and the colour, for those who will hear the music, it should be an unforgettable experience."

All 16 teams will enter the stadium accompanied by a child, that will be followed by welcome remarks from Dehring, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and the Prime Minister of Grenada and head of CARICOM's committee on cricket, Dr. Keith Mitchell., and that willbe followed by the main addresses by Ken Gordon - president of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), and by Percy Sonn - president of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

West Indies captain Brian Lara will then, on behalf of all the cricketers, read the Cricketers Declaration, West Indies number one umpire Steve Bucknor will follow with the Umpires and Officials Declaration and then Sir Gary Sobers, the master batsman, master bowler and master fielder rated by many as the greatest cricketer the world has ever seen, will declare the tournament open.

Somewhere during the evening, Rupee, Shaggy and Faye-Ann Lyon will sing the official song of the tournament, The game of love and unity, and during the show other songs celebrating the World Cup, songs like Come to Jamaica by Richie Stephens, Windies by DJ Zumjay, and Glory Days by popular dancehall artiste Vegas will contribute to the evening's entertainment.

Among those involved in putting the show together are Martin Lewis - event director, Carol Lawes - creative director, L'anpointte Stymes - dance and movement, Bert Rose - creative designer, Monica Lawrence - costumes manager, Brian St. Juste - technical manager, Lawrence Tulloch - production manager, and Peter Ashbourne, the man responsible for the musical side of things.

In other words, it is time for Dehring and his team, Jamaica, and the West Indies to deliver, and not only to the world as promised but also to the local fans.