Arnos Vale upgrade for 2007

KINGSTOWN: In hopes of holding some of the 2007 World Cup matches in St Vincent, the government was considering upgrading the country’s main stadium to meet international tournament standards, officials said.

While the Arnos Vale Playing Field has potential, it needs more seating, better access paths and a new, flatter outfield, officials said on Monday. “The road ahead is going to be trying,” but the government’s support is “very encouraging,” said Lennox John, president of the Windward Islands Cricket Board. Officials were assessing how much improvements would cost, including new grandstands to boost the stadium’s 10,000 seating capacity and possibly an electronic scoreboard and video board. “There is still plenty of work to be carried out” to meet standards set by the International Cricket Council, said Don Lockerbie, of the West Indies World Cup Organising Committee,  during a visit to the country on Friday. Lockerbie, who also met with Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves and local cricket officials, has visited eight other Caribbean countries contending to host World Cup matches. The 2007 World Cup will be the first ever in the Caribbean, with 16 teams expected to compete. The venues will be announced in April.