2007 Cricket World Cup gets first test

The 2007 Cricket World Cup, more than four years in the making propels nine island nation-states into what was once the preserve solely of First World countries who had at their disposal the resources to properly organise and execute the third largest sports event in history.

When four warm-up matches get underway today, including the number one rated team in the world, South Africa, against minnows Canada at St Augustine, it will be the first real test the region gets about its readiness for the tournament.

All eyes naturally will be focused on the West Indies, who are bidding to become the first hosts to win the championship at home. They face Kenya at Trelawny in Jamaica.

Injury-hit England, coming off successive victories against Australia battle Bermuda, coached by Trinidadian Gus Logie at Arnos Vale in St Vincent.

And Sri Lanka, considered one of the dark horses for the tournament’s spoils come up against qualifiers Scotland at the 3Ws Oval in Barbados.

With more than US$2.5B reportedly spent in building and refurbishing stadiums throughout the region, much of it public funds, crickets fans expect value for money off and on the field.

While the majority of host venues are already completed including the impressive Beausejour in St Lucia, others are still frantically trying to be completed in time for the first set of group matches on March 13 including the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain.

However, the Sir Frank Worrell Oval on the St Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies, which won warm-up status by proxy is all set to host today’s match. At a media tour conducted by Venue Consultant Craig Penzler last week, the facility which seats more than 3,000 fans was described as one of the best of its kind and the perfect setting for the fanatical Trinidad and Tobago cricket fans and their visitors to have fun and enjoy the excitement of World Cup cricket.

Penzler stressed that the new facilities, after the Cricket World Cup, will be left as a legacy for future generations to use, which ordinarily they would not have received.

From oil rich Trinidad and Tobago, where plans for a brand new facility— the Brian Lara Stadium, costing close to half a billion dollars was contemplated, to hurricane ravaged Grenada, over the coming weeks the region will be seen as capable of holding its own against the best in the world.

Other aspects of the cricket legacy to be left by this giant leap for the island chain include the open space created by the Sunset Legislation which allows the free travel of persons, goods and services for the duration of the tournament.

This unprecedented commiseration of regional legislators, which albeit came at the eleventh hour demonstrated that agreement and co-operation is achieveable at the highest levels of governance.

Also anti-infringement legislation, unheard of in the Caribbean before, has thrust us into the forefront of the protection of intellectual and commercial copyrights and prevention of ambush marketing.

Although not quantifiable to any degree of certainty, thousands of opportunities will be created for many in the service industries which will no doubt after the event be recorded on the Venue Hosts’ respective domestic economic growth chart.

There are also security implications for the region, especially since 9/11 and many countries have come forward to assist in making the event terrorism free with the United States, England, and others lending their expertise and assistance.

The Cricket World Cup offers a rare window to the world for the Caribbean and it is sure to be reflected on the tourism component so crucial to some of the island’s economies.

More than 100,000 visitors are expected for the duration of the tournament and their experiences in the Caribbean are sure to have an impact on the region’s reputation as a tourist destination for many years to come.

Not that it has been an easy ride for the hosts to be ready for this important phase of their development and the ablity to change the perception the outside world has of it.

The planning stages enlisted the best and brightest minds throughout the Caribbean with the West Indies Cricket Board and the respective Local Organising Committee literally turning night into day to meet demanding deadlines and expectations laid down by the overall organisers of the contest, the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Governments had to be coaxed into allocating in many cases scarce resources to set up the infrastructure for the event and in specific localities, the concerns of residents had to be appeased as they obviously would face a disruption in their normal routine.

The emergency services also had to work in tandem with the protective arms of the state to ensure that residents and guests alike, including visiting teams would remain safe and unhindered.

At the end of today, officials intricately involved in the planning of the event and citizens of the Caribbean would be in a better position to breathe a collective sigh of relief and collectively say, “We have reached.”

TODAY’S MATCHES

West Indies vs Kenya, Trelawny, Jamaica

South Africa vs Ireland, St Augustine, Trinidad

England vs Bermuda, Arnos Vale, St Vincent

Sri Lanka vs Scotland, 3Ws Oval, Barbados