With cricket’s most prestigious tournament, the World Cup, set to be held in the Caribbean in 2007, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) will honour one of the icons who helped the West Indies capture the first two Cricket World Cup titles in 1975 and 1979.
The former captain, Viv Richards (now Sir Vivian), whose brilliant fielding helped the Caribbean team defeat Australia in the first ever final in 1995 and who returned four years later to terrorise England with a century and secure victory for the West Indies in the final of the second World Cup, will receive the CTO’s Award of Excellence.

“Sir Vivian Richards used his cricketing genius to take the Caribbean to the world so the world can come to the Caribbean,” Pamela C. Richards, chairman of CTO said.

“He was one of the most imposing personalities in cricket who proved to the rest of the world that despite our small size we in the region can achieve greatness. The Caribbean is as proud of him today as in the days he struck fear in the hearts of opposing teams and we are at the CTO are pleased to present him with out Award of Excellence,” the CTO chairman added.

Sir Vivian was an explosive batsman But Sir Vivian Richards transcended cricket culture and provided ideology and political leadership in a way that no other West Indian cricketer had done since Sir Frank Worrell.

Cricket was the instrument through which he demonstrated excellence and dedication and, according to University of the West Indies Centre for Cricket Research, his contribution to West Indian nation building can be measured in terms of his unwavering commitment to the search of our people for justice, equity and true pride.
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