World Cup 2023 Trophy Tour launched above 120,000 feet

World Cup 2023: The feat was achieved with the World Cup Trophy attached to a bespoke stratospheric balloon.

World Cup 2023 Trophy Tour launched above 120,000 feet

The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 Trophy Tour began in spectacular fashion, launching 120,000 feet above the Earth before descending in India's Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the world's largest cricket stadium.

The feat was accomplished by attaching the World Cup Trophy to a custom stratospheric balloon. 4K cameras captured the breathtaking images of the renowned silverware sitting on the edge of the Earth's atmosphere. At the peak altitude, the balloon traversed more than 99.5% of the Earth's atmosphere with a temperature of -65°C.

The space flight sets the stage for the largest-ever ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Trophy Tour, counting down to the October-November tournament in India. 

The Trophy Tour seeks to give one million fans the opportunity to interact with the prized silverware prior to the highly anticipated global event. It will visit 18 countries across five continents and feature a variety of activations.

The Trophy Tour will recreate the sense of occasion and carnival-like atmosphere synonymous with Cricket World Cups through a series of large-scale activations at some of the world's most iconic destinations as it embarks on its first full-scale global tour since 2019.

On cricketworldcup.com, fans can track the progress of the Trophy Tour as it travels around the world.

In addition to visiting over 20 cities in India and other participating nations, the Trophy will tour a number of emerging nations, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Nigeria, Uganda, France, Italy, and the United States, allowing new and existing fans to catch a glimpse of world cricket's most prestigious trophy.

ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice stated, "The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Trophy Tour is a significant step in the countdown to what will be the largest ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in history. In addition to visiting some of the world's most iconic landmarks, the iconic trophy will meet heads of state, initiate community initiatives, and support cricket development programs during this tour.

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"Cricket has more than a billion fans, and we want as many people as possible to have the chance to see this famous trophy, which has been held aloft by some of our sport's greatest legends."

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah stated, "Cricket unites India like no other sport, and excitement is building across the nation as we prepare to host the 10 best teams in the world for six weeks of heart-pounding cricket." 

"As we countdown to the World Cup, the Trophy Tour is a terrific opportunity for fans everywhere to be a part of the event. The Tour will travel extensively throughout India and aim to inspire communities to share the excitement of cricket's greatest spectacle while providing an opportunity to highlight the country's most iconic venues, cities, and landmarks.