ICC Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Speed has welcomed the official launch of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 as the start point of one of the world's great sporting events.

Speaking at today's official launch at the Soweto Cricket Oval in South Africa he said: "This great tournament will bring together the best cricketers from around the world to parade their talents in front of a huge global audience. We confidently expect more than 800,000 spectators to attend the 54 matches held at 15 venues in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya. In addition, this wonderful spectacle is forecast to attract a global television audience in excess of one billion viewers, which says everything about the tremendous drawing power of cricket."

Mr Speed also announced that South African Airways has become the latest corporation to sign up as an official ICC sponsor, joining other major sponsors Pepsi, LG and Hero Honda. "We are delighted to welcome South African Airways to join the ICC in promoting the great game of cricket as an official ICC sponsor.

We will also be announcing a number of other partners and sponsors in the coming months," he added.

14 countries will compete for the honour of lifting the ICC World Cup. The ten Test nations, plus Canada, Holland, Kenya and Namibia will take part in cricket's most lucrative ever tournament, with a total prize fund of US $5 million, of which the winning team will receive more than US $2 million. The final will be played at The Wanderers in Johannesburg on Sunday, 23rd March 2003.

"The ICC and its commercial partner, Global Cricket Corporation, are delighted to be working with the United Cricket Board of South Africa and the South African government on this fabulous event. Every World Cup since 1975 has been special in its own right and I'm convinced that South Africa 2003 will set new and even higher standards," concluded Mr Speed.

Media contact:
Mark Harrison
ICC Communications Manager
Tel: + 44 20 7266 7913/1818
Email: mark.harrison@icc-cricket.com

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