Heavy rain at Lincoln University for the opening ceremony of the CricInfo Women's World Cup did not diminish the enthusiasm of a Maori action group who ensured all eight teams were given a memorable taste of New Zealand culture.

While the rain was an unwelcome visitor for the opening ceremony, the efforts of Te Kotahitangu in welcoming all eight participating countries in the traditional Maori fashion took minds off the disappointment of the weather.

As teams walked to their seats on covered podiums to the accompaniment of their national anthems, they were challenged by the warriors of the Maori party.

Once all were seated cameras clicked as a haka was performed and as the warriors moved among the visitors.

It rained thoughout and occasionally a participant happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when excess water from the roof of the marquee covering the crowd watching the ceremony was dumped on the performers.

The forecast for tomorrow's all important opening game between the finalists from the last World Cup, Australia (the winner) and New Zealand is not good with rain possibly clearing later in the day.

With time for games allowing a finish to 8pm there was still a good chance that a match could be played. If no play is possible on the day both teams will receive one point each. The only games with reserve days are the semi-finals and final.

Ground staff were committed to working around the clock to ensure that once the rain stops it will be a short time before the ground is ready for play.

In welcoming the teams to New Zealand Cricket's (NZC) impressive complex at Lincoln University, NZC's chief executive Christopher Doig said the World Cup project was one that had been on the minds of his staff for a number of years.

The outstanding complex at Lincoln had grown from the initial dream of providing an indoor training facility to one which now housed a six-lane indoor facility, year-round accommodation for players who attend the Cricket Academy, two top quality cricket grounds and now a new pavilion of the highest standard.

The partnership with Lincoln University had prospered beyond NZC's wildest dreams, Doig said.

NZC's involvement in staging the Cup was a reflection of the amalgamation of men's and women's cricket which occurred in New Zealand in 1992, he said, and was a tribute to the work of people like New Zealand women's administrator and team member Catherine Campbell and NZC administration manager Tim Murdoch, who had kept the profile of the women's game high.

Doig said the tournament could not have been better served than with its sponsorship arrangement with CricInfo.

The international chief executive of CricInfo, Simon King said the tournament was of special significance to the company.

Women's cricket had long been neglected by the media and the company was looking to redress that situation.

The Internet had brought together tens of millions of people and was now the world's biggest sports site and the first game of the tournament would be the main event.

"No other sports event, so far as we are aware, will have seen anything like it," he said.

The president of the International Women's Cricket Council, Mary Britto said that because of rising costs the IWCC was obliged to restrict the numbers taking part in the tournament to eight countries but was certain the tournament would produce a high standard of play.

The Minister of Sport, Fitness and Leisure, Trevor Mallard then opened the tournament and said the work already done to promote the event had lifted the profile of CricInfo in New Zealand.

He wished all countries the best for the tournament and passed on best wishes to the New Zealand on behalf of the public of the country.

© CricInfo