New Delhi: Cricket enthusiasts across the globe are all set for the world cricket's quadrennial extravaganza as Melbourne and Christchurch are geared up to kick-start the 11th World Cup with a spectacular opening ceremony today.
International cricket captains will be paraded on a ceremonial pitch and would be a part of a packed crowd at Melboune.
The two-act opening ceremony will be held at Christchurch in New Zealand and Melbourne in Australia between 2:00 and 5:00 pm IST.
About 10,000 people will attend tonight's ceremony which will see 10 of the 14 World Cup captains march behind flag bearers from Melbourne cricket club. The other four nations — New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe — will take part in a smaller ceremony in Christchurch.
The New Zealand opening ceremony will be held at Christchurch's North Hagley Park. The event is expected to be a celebration of not just the host nation, but also of its passion and love for cricket.
The Melbourne celebration will be at Sidney Myer Music Bowl which will involve World Cup players and legends, cultural and music performances, a spectacular fireworks display and a yet-to-be-revealed "special moment".
Melbourne has been well-known to host spectacular ceremonies ahead of international sporting events. The city of over four million was the first in the southern hemisphere to host the Olympics - in 1956. More recently, it hosted the 2006 Commonwealth Games and welcomes tennis and F1 superstars each year as well.
The Sidney Myer Music Bowl will be transformed into a replica cricket oval for the two-and-a-half hour ceremony themed on a day-night match at the MCG.
It will include a secret “magic moment'' organisers hope becomes iconic to Australian sport when it is beamed around the globe, as well as performances by Jessica Mauboy, Daryl Braithwaite and Tina Arena.
Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events John Eren said Melbourne would now be the scene of the opening event, the first match on Australian soil when Australia will play against England on February 14, and the final at the Melbournbe Cricket Ground (MCG) on March 29.
"We are delighted that Melburnians and visitors from all over the world will have a chance to attend this once-in-a-generation event at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl," Eren was quoted as saying by Cricket Australia (CA) website.
Christchurch's opening event will feature some of New Zealand's best known performers, cricket legends including Richard Hadlee and Stephen Fleming and a special segment to recognise the rebuilding of the city following the disastrous earthquakes.
The event here will begin from 1830 hrs (local time, 11 AM IST) with roving entertainers and Kiwi cricket legends welcoming the world here. The main event - which begins from 2100 hrs local time, will put New Zealand's culture and love for cricket to the fore.
The city also promises a dazzling display of fireworks - one that locals would not have witnessed here before. While alcohol is not permitted here, according to New Zealand's tourism website - an exciting party towards the end will end the grand event.
The opening ceremony will be free to attend and tickets will be available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.
Each applicant can request up to four tickets and further details of the ceremony will be revealed closer to the event.
Defending champions India will start their campaign to retain the coveted trophy when they take on their arch rivals Pakistan on February 15. Tickets for the much-anticipated clash between traditional rivals at Adelaide Oval sold out in just 20 minutes when they went on sale last year. The match could be the most-watched game in cricket history and has been eagerly anticipated right across the globe since it was announced.
