First host venue begins construction for ICC CWC 2007

Guyana is being applauded as the first of the eight host venues for the ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 to begin construction of a new stadium for the major tournament.

The construction begins ahead of a meeting to be held in Kingston, Jamaica, from 3-7 August to update officials on stadium development in the eight venues.

Guyana's progress was recognised by Rawle Brancker, Chairman of ICC CWC WI 2007 Inc. and Donald Lockerbie, ICC CWC WI 2007 Venue Development Director, as a result of a tour of the 60-acre site last Thursday to witness initial and preliminary work.

During the visit, Brancker and Lockerbie met with members of the Local Organising Committee of Guyana led by Minister of Sports Gail Teixeira, the President of the Guyana Cricket Board, Chetram Singh, and retired Major General Norman McLean. A meeting was also organised with President Bharrat Jagdeo.

"It is just great that in advance of the meeting, the team and government in Guyana is pushing ahead and is building momentum which will spread across the region," Lockerbie said of Guyana's progress.

He added: "A value of nearly US$ 200M of stadium construction projects are on tap over the next 32 months leading to the ICC Cricket World Cup in the spring of 2007, so we are really encouraged to get the first of eight venues off the ground."

Brancker reported: "Our meeting with President Jagdeo was especially meaningful as he outlined Guyana's commitment and full cooperation to meet the standards, mandates and deadlines of the ICC and ICC CWC WI 2007 Inc.

"As a Super Eight venue, we will need a state-of-the-art venue with amenities and features that will add to the performance of the players and officials as well as ensure the enjoyment of all our sponsors, spectators and VIPs.

"We feel that the new site offers an outstanding opportunity for Guyana to develop a world-class venue free of security, transport, traffic and urban issues that may have affected Bourda as a world cup site."

In Guyana, bridges are being built to cross the waterway canal separating the 60-acres from the main road, which is being widened from two to four lanes.

Rough grading, canal re-direction, road building and site planning are all underway on the 20,000 seat venue that is expected to be completed in the next two years.

The eight Host Venues - Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago - will meet with Lockerbie and members of the ICC, Global Cricket Corporation, World Sport Nimbus and Venue Assessment Team in Kingston, Jamaica, this week (3-7 August).

Each country will update the officials on the progress being made on stadium planning and development, while continuing to learn of the requirements of hosting the tournament.

For further information:

Fay Cooke-Nurse
Public Relations/Education Consultant
Saunders-Franklyn Associates Inc.
Suite #4, Wildey Shopping Plaza, Wildey
St. Michael. Barbados, W.I.
Tel:(246) 437-5588 Fax:(246) 437-5593
E-mail: saunders@sunbeach.net