Colourful Stanford 20/20 tournament opening

The 2nd annual Stanford 20/20 tournament, known for its slogan, "When Night Falls, Cricket Rises', opened in a blaze of colour, amid the thunderous boom of fireworks which lit up the skyline over the Caribbean famous Stanford Cricket Ground on Saturday night.  Before 6,500 noisy spectators, Antiguan own hero, Sir Vivian Richards declared the 2008 tournament official open at just about 6:40 p.m., which was followed by the showing of the Stanford 20/20 theme song and video, Come Rise With Me, performed by Machel Montano and Claudette Peters, on the multi million dollar scoreboards.
 
Minutes before, there were loud cheers as all the captains from the 19 competing teams paraded with flag bearers before 14 West Indies Legends, included Richards, Sir Gary Sobers and Sir Allen Stanford, the man behind the tournament.
 
The ceremony was amazing and exciting, especially when ‘King of the Dancehall' Bennie Man and Antigua entertainer Claudette ‘CP' Peters, who had earlier performed Antigua and Barbuda's National Anthem, did the Stanford 20/20 Anthem – ‘Let the Battle Begin'.
 
Rev Wes Hall, former West Indies player and board president, did prayer.
 
Sir Allen Stanford, creator and financier of the Stanford 20/20 gave the welcome remarks, which was followed by the introduction of the captains of the 20 teams who will be participating in the tournament.
 
In his remarks, Sir Stanford announced that this year's tournament will be big and better. He pointed to a clock that is stationed on top of the southern stand, which he said the first batsman who hit it will walk away with US$100,000.
 
He announced said a lucky spectator who is in the stadium at the time, will also win for themselves US$100,000. This winner, he said, will be decided by the drawing of a ticket.
 
Sir Allen Stanford also highlighted the tremendous work of his board of directors, the 14 Legends, who were on the platform with him for the ceremony. He also spoke of the improvement made to the ground, and it was behind this he said this year's tournament will be a world class event.
 
The 2008 tournament will be broadcasted to one billion viewers around, Asia, Africa, Europe, America, Canada, and the Caribbean.