Cricket's greatest prize, the ICC Cricket World Cup, will visit Melbourne this weekend on the final leg of its global journey to the big event, which starts in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka next month.
Fans will be given the chance to enjoy a rare close-up view of the 2011 trophy which will be displayed at several public events in Melbourne on Sunday 16 January and Monday 17 January.
The trophy and ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat will be welcomed by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Hon. Robert Doyle, at a public function at Federation Square's main stage in the city between 1000 and 1100. International cricket legend Dean Jones, who was part of Australia's World Cup-winning team in 1987, will join in the celebrations by sharing his memories of past Cricket World Cups and having his photo taken with fans and the trophy.
The trophy will then make its way to the MCG prior to the start of the One-Day International between Australia and England, where it will be displayed outside Gate 1 between 1230 and 1430. The match will coincide with celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of the first-ever ODI, which took place at the same venue between the same teams in 1971.
On Monday 17 January, the trophy will travel to Melbourne International Airport from 1200 for fans to get one last glimpse before it departs for Mumbai that evening.
Mr Lorgat said that the ICC was delighted to be bringing the 2011 trophy to Australia, the reigning world champion and the team that has held the trophy since 1999 having won the past consecutive three editions of the tournament.
"This is cricket's flagship event and it is fitting to be here in Australia, a country that has enjoyed so much success having won the Cricket World Cup four times, more than any other country," said Mr Lorgat.
"This year is shaping up to be one of the most exciting of all the ICC Cricket World Cups. It is open and unpredictable and it won't be easy for Australia to win it yet again but it also won't be easy for any other team to wrestle the trophy from the defending champions. It promises to be an enthralling Cricket World Cup and the ICC is looking forward to an exciting competition among the 14 teams.
"In recent months we have seen some truly great Test cricket around the world but now it's time for the one-day format to take centre stage and I can't wait to be in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka next month," he said.
The 2011 Cricket World Cup trophy, designed by a team of craftsmen from Garrard and Co., the British Crown jewellers, is made from silver and gold. It stands at 60cm in height and weighs 11kg. The design features a golden globe held up by three silver columns. The columns, shaped as stumps and balls, represent the three fundamental aspects of cricket --- batting, bowling and fielding --- while the globe also signifies a cricket ball.
The public events to see the 2011 Cricket World Cup Trophy are:
Sunday 16 January - 1000-1100, Federation Square main stage, 1230-1430, outside Gate 1 of the MCG at the Ponsford Stand,
Monday 17 January - 1200-2000, Melbourne Airport T2 Terminal (International Departures).
