Galaxy of stars support `biggest ever empowerment project ever in South African sport'

ICC Cricket World Cup 2003, African Sport Ambassadors Photo © Touchline Photo

The ICC Cricket World Cup in South Africa in four months' time - described by its executive director Dr Ali Bacher as "the biggest empowerment project that South African sport has ever embarked upon" - will be backed by the largest galaxy of all-sports heroes yet assembled for any event on the African continent.

At a glittering 1500-seater banquet at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on Saturday night, the identities of the 41 African Sport Ambassadors to the 44-day tournament were revealed.

They include legendary Kenyan Olympic middle-distance runner Kip Keino, a trio of Major golf champions in Gary Player, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, the captain of the 1995 Rugby World Cup winning Springboks, Francois Pienaar, cricketers Graeme Pollock and Basil D'Oliveira, SA soccer heroes Lucas Radebe and Doctor Khumalo, former Formula One world champion Jody Scheckter, Olympic marathon gold medallist Josiah Thugwane, multi-titled swim queen Penny Heyns, and South Africa's `Mr Paralympics' Fanie Lombaard.

The Ambassadors, who will perform a variety of functions around the ICC Cricket World Cup in South Africa between 8 February-23 March 2003, were awarded special black and white braided colours blazers by the International Cricket Council's chief executive officer Malcolm Speed.

Dr Bacher thanked the Ambassadors for bringing "their own special brand of dignity and integrity" to the world's most important cricket tournament.

"I don't believe I am exaggerating when I say that this represents the biggest gathering of sporting superstars that this country has ever witnessed at any one time."

During the tournament "a veritable army of proud South Africans, including 3000 volunteers, black and white, young and old, would be playing a variety of different roles to ensure that the dream becomes a reality."

In acclaiming the Ambassadors, Dr Bacher added, "on behalf of South African cricket, to each of you I say, thank you for playing your role in helping us to achieve what I firmly believe is the biggest empowerment project that South African sport has ever embarked upon."

ICC Cricket World Cup 2003, African Sport Ambassadors Photo © Touchline Photo

The Minister of Sport, Mr Ngconde Balfour, was unable to attend Saturday night's banquet, but an impressive array of provincial and local government representatives, top United Cricket Board of SA officials Percy Sonn and Gerald Majola, Zimbabwe Cricket Union president Peter Chingoka, leading administrators from the all the sports federations, and the cream of South Africa's business community were present.

Among the Ambassadors honoured were Namibian sprint king Frank Fredericks, Zimbabwean soccer ace Peter Ndlovu, the much-acclaimed deaf swimmer Terence Parkin, javelin gold medallist Marius Corbett, and the Kenyan rated the greatest cross-country runner of all time, Paul Tergat.

It was a veritable roll-call of honour as the Ambassadors were cheered up to the podium. High jump queen Hestrie Cloete, SA women's soccer captain Desiree Ellis, football greats Joe Kadenge of Kenya and Marks Maponyane of South Africa, the Paralympics stars Jane Mandean and Zanele Situ, former world 1500m record holder Sydney Maree, fellow middle-distance star Hezekiel Sepeng, and marathon and ultra-distance greats Tegla Loroupe of Kenya and South Africa's Bruce Fordyce and Frith van der Merwe all made an appearance.

The hugely popular Baby Jake Matlala, Brian Mitchell, Dingaan Thobela, Welcome Ncita and Vuyani Bungu represented boxing, and rugby union standouts were Chester Williams, Naas Botha and Morne du Plessis.

Ambassadors from the world of tennis are the celebrated South African duo of Amanda Coetzer and Wayne Ferreira, and former doubles world champion Byron Black of Zimbabwe.

All 41 African Sport Ambassadors will be paraded at the two-hour opening ceremony of the ICC Cricket World Cup at Newlands in Cape Town on February 8 2003 at which South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki will officially open the 54-match tournament.

Media contacts:

Rodney Hartman
Communications Director, ICC Cricket World Cup
Tel: + 27 (0) 11 446 3604
Email: rodneyh@cricket.co.za

Mark Harrison
ICC Communications Manager
Tel: + 44 (0) 207 266 7913
Mob: + 44 (0) 787 944 1891
Email: mark.harrison@icc-cricket.com