The ICC ODI World Cup Trophy Tour began in grand style as the silverware was the first official sports trophy to be sent into space, as per TOI.
It was sent into the stratosphere, 120,000 feet above Earth and the trophy landed at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad.
ICC
The trip is the beginning of the largest ICC men’s Cricket World Cup Trophy Tour of all time, as it counts down to the tournament that will be played in different parts of India from October 5 to November 19.
The Trophy Tour starts on June 27 in India and the World Cup will go all over the world and come back to India on September 4, according to an ICC release.
The 2023 edition of the Trophy Tour is going to be the greatest of all time and it will be a chance for fans all over the world to connect with the World Cup.
This tour will be an opportunity for a million fans to personally interact with the World Cup trophy.
“The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Trophy Tour is an important milestone in the countdown to what will be the biggest ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup ever,” said ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice.
ICC
“This Tour will see the iconic silverware meet heads of state, launch community initiatives and support cricket development programs in addition to visiting some of the most iconic landmarks around the globe. Cricket has more than a billion fans and we want to give as many people as possible the opportunity to get up close to this famous trophy that has been held aloft by some of the greatest legends of our sport,” he added.
“Cricket unites India like no other sport and excitement is building across the country as we prepare to host the 10 best teams in the world over six weeks of heart-stopping cricket,” said BCCI secretary Jay Shah.
“As we countdown to the World Cup, the Trophy Tour is a fantastic chance for fans to be part of the event wherever they are. The Tour will travel extensively across India and seek to inspire communities to share the excitement of cricket’s greatest spectacle while providing an opportunity to showcase iconic venues, cities and landmarks throughout the country,” Shah added.
This is the first time India is hosting the tournament on its own. In 1987 it was jointly done with Pakistan in 1996 Sri Lanka too joined in. In 2011, Bangladesh replaced Pakistan as the 3rd co-host. The 1987 and 2011 finals were played in India and this one will be the 3rd to take place.