Players competing in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand were given a traditional welcome at the formal opening ceremony held in Christchurch today.

All 16 participating teams gathered in the city for the function before taking up residence at the three venues in Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin for the tournament which has its first game on Saturday.

The function was held at the Christchurch Convention Centre and before entering the auditorium for the opening function, teams walked through a specially constructed representation of New Zealand's geographical background which featured glow-worm caves, the famed pink and white terraces which were buried beneath a volcanic eruption in the 19th Century, boiling mud pools, rain forest and rolling farmlands.

They were greeted by a formal Maori welcome before all team captains and visiting dignitaries completed the hongi, the traditional Maori greeting where local Maori rub noses with the visitors.

New Zealand Cricket's chief executive Martin Snedden said NZC was "proud and privileged" to be hosting the World Cup.

"This World Cup represents the most diverse assemblage of nations ever to gather for a cricket competition in New Zealand," he said.

Hosting the tournament was a welcome opportunity for New Zealand because of the work being done here to grow and foster the game at junior level.

"This Under-19 World Cup delivers a unique opportunity to showcase the game to a new generation of aspiring athletes, and to demonstrate to them the skill, the commitment, the athleticism and the energy that combine to make cricket such a complete sport," he said.

The president of the ICC, Malcolm Gray, had two congratulations to deliver to New Zealand, the first for its victory in the VB Series opening game over Australia on Friday, and the second for its organisation of the tournament.

The ICC was extremely grateful for the willing and enthusiastic way NZC had gone about organising the event.

"It is a wonderful opportunity for players to make it a stepping stone to full international cricket," he said.

Cricket had recently provided some fantastic incentives to be involved in the game - the third Australia-New Zealand Test in Perth and the deciding of the ICC Test Championship between the heavyweights Australia and South Africa recently.

He asked players in the tournament to enjoy not only the cricket but the companionship of their opponents.

Gray reiterated the stand the ICC was taking to lift the spirit of cricket and reinforced to team captains in the youth tournament that much of the onus for protecting that spirit lay with them and he asked them to consider their responsibilities.

The deputy Prime Minister, Jim Anderton, in opening the tournament, recalled some of his own cricket experiences including facing former New Zealand fast bowler Gary Bartlett, regarded as the fastest bowler New Zealand has produced, during a Hawke Cup challenge match while Anderton represented Wanganui.

Having to come to the wicket second ball, after the first batsman was bowled first ball, Anderton said he saw Bartlett start to run in, move his shoulders and saw nothing until he turned to see the ball in the wicket-keeper's gloves.

"I never saw the ball, but I have not been scared of anything since that day," he said.

Anderton said sport in New Zealand had the ability to swell or diminish the national morale.

"You will come to know the pride and pressure of representing your country," he said.

Anderton hoped the players would remember the spirit of cricket during the tournament and that it would bring the countries competing closer together in the way that only sport can achieve.

© CricInfo