The organisers promise colour and spectacle and that is what they deliver at the World Cup opening ceremony in Jamaica

Dazzling costumes delight the crowds as the World Cup is launched in style at Trelawny Stadium

Elaborate floats, some of them carrying sinister characters, process pass the spectators as the atmosphere builds

More than 2,000 singers and dancers take part in the $2m opening ceremony

A new way of playing a Shane Bond bouncer? It is unlikely any of the players will be following suit

Jamaican singer Sean Paul was one of the evening's star musical attractions

The I-Threes - Judy Mowatt, Rita Marley and Marcia Griffiths - pay tribute to the late Bob Marley

With a packed schedule of 51 matches, the ICC is hoping rain stays away from the Caribbean

Costumes reflect the nine Caribbean countries which will be staging matches - in this case, Trinidad

The England team makes its way onto the field, led by captain Michael Vaughan and star all-rounder Andrew Flintoff

Australia are on a hat-trick of World Cup wins and skipper Ricky Ponting (left) looks as if he would rather be playing

West Indies captain Brian Lara ponders the challenge facing his side - no team has ever won the World Cup on home soil

India's Anil Kumble captures events on camera as his side go into the tournament as one of the favourites

Inzamam-ul-Haq (right) browses his programme as he and his Pakistan team, finalists in 1999, enjoy the opening ceremony

The Cup minnows are determined to enjoy the tournament and none more so than Trent Johnston and his Irish team

Sir Garfield Sobers officially opens the ninth Cricket World Cup - the hosts play Pakistan in the opening match on Tuesday