(Reuters) Malcolm Speed, the International Cricket Council's (ICC) chief executive officer, was present at the unveiling of the official zebra mascot followed by a cricket clinic featuring 100 Soweto school children.
"The ICC is very excited about working with the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCB) and the government, and together we will create a spectacular sporting event that will delight cricket fans around the world," Speed said.
Ali Bacher, the executive director of the 2003 Cricket World Cup, said he hoped the tournament would be something all South Africans could regard as their own.
"We want to leave a legacy with this event," he said. "The beneficiaries of the tournament must be all disadvantaged black and white South Africans. I hope that after this Cricket World Cup, thousands of South Africans will be better off."
The 54-match tournament will run from February 9, when South Africa are due to play West Indies in Cape Town, to the March 23 final in Johannesburg.
The 2003 Cricket World Cup has been officially launched in Soweto, with unity put forward as the main theme of the event to be hosted by South Africa.
