Today (Wednesday) marks exactly 249 days to go before the start of the ICC Cricket World Cup in South Africa in 2003 – a global sports event that will have a major music component throughout its 44 days' duration.

A committee set up to co-ordinate the big music component for the tournament has been hard at work in order to finalise among others, the theme song.

Big names in South African music have been appointed to serve on the committee headed by playwright and chairman of the South African Music Awards, Duma ka Ndlovu. Members of the committee have been sourced from the government, musicians, recording companies and entertainment consultants.

The ICC Cricket World Cup marketing director and member of the committee Ms Nomsa Chabeli said Monday that the committee has its work cut out in co-ordinating the huge music component that will keep the world on its feet as the 14-nations tournament gets underway.

The World Cup starts on February 8 next year with a planned spectacular opening ceremony in Cape Town and the final will be played at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on March 23. For the first time in a World Cup, a closing ceremony will be held.

The music committee is currently going through a selection process for the official theme song and an announcement is expected to be made soon.

Commenting on the music component of the 44-day tournament, Ms Chabeli said: "We will have three usages for the theme song. There will be a ceremonial version to be performed during the opening ceremony, a commercially popular version and one for radio and television advertisements.

"We hope to involve as many South African musicians as possible. We must create a situation where we can celebrate our African culture, create excitement, fun and camaraderie among not only cricket lovers, but all South Africans and indeed the whole world since this is an international event," said Ms Chabeli.

She also announced that a national music co-ordinator would be appointed towards the end of June. "This person will look after all our music-related activities, including 12 night-before-match concerts at various venues, 54 carnivals during each day of the tournament, "meet-and-greets" at airports and official hotels, the massive roadshow from Nairobi, Kenya to Cape Town and other live performances."

Artists interested in taking part in these performances will be called for later in the year. Details will be announced in the media.

In addition it was announced that for the first time at cricket matches in South Africa, no fewer than five languages – Xhosa, Zulu, Sotho, Afrikaans and English – will be used by PA announcers during the ICC Cricket World Cup in South Africa next year.

Twelve venues will host World Cup matches, and the predominant languages of the respective regions will be in use for all announcements in and around the grounds.

For example, English and Zulu will be the order of the day at matches in Durban, English, Afrikaans and Xhosa at Port Elizabeth and East London, and English, Afrikaans and Sotho in Bloemfontein.

Two PA announcers will be appointed at each venue.

© International Cricket Council