Rush on for ICC CWC 2007 tickets

ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 promises to be truly an international melting pot of cultures with more than 3500 individuals from more than 50 countries already applying for tickets through the ICC CWC WI 2007 Inc. Public Ticketing programme.

The first day of online applications for next year's stellar Event has proven extremely busy and, acknowledged ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 Inc. Managing Director & CEO Chris Dehring, "public reaction has been beyond our most ambitious expectations".

As of 4 p.m. Eastern Caribbean time today, applications - which began on the tournament website (www.cricketworldcup.com) shortly after midnight last night - had been registered from persons in 53 countries with the most activity being generated by the UK, the USA, Australia, Barbados, Canada, Jamaica, India, Trinidad & Tobago, South Africa, Ireland, St. Kitts & Nevis, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in that order.

"It was a long but exciting overnight vigil as we watched each market open up around the world because of the different time zones. We are extremely pleased by the enthusiasm and obvious interest being shown in this Event," said Dehring, who spearheaded the bid almost a decade ago to bring the ninth edition of cricket's most popular and prestigious tournament to the Caribbean.

"We have been counting down to the Cricket World Cup - but it's here now. It's happening and it's incredible to see the numbers of people, from what we might consider the most unlikely of places, who are eager to secure tickets."

Among the countries from which applications have been submitted are: Bahrain, Botswana, China, Cyprus, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Namibia, Norway, Poland, Qatar and Uzbekistan; the latter and Poland being non-ICC members.

"There is significant worldwide interest in this tournament. People want to experience the Caribbean version of the Cricket World Cup and, though everyone who applies in Phase 1 has an equal opportunity to be allocated tickets, there are clearly those who are determined to be first in line."

Despite all-day activity, the ICC CWC 2007 Managing Director revealed the www.cricketworldcup.com website had "proven robust enough to handle the heavy online traffic".

"We have paid a lot of attention to our Ticketing system over the last few months and we were confident of how it would operate, given the necessary testing and other preparatory work undertaken. I have stressed that we must conduct every aspect of this Event to world-class standards and, so far, this launch of Public Ticketing has been a very good example of that," said Dehring.

The demand for ICC Cricket World Cup tickets is expected to increase tomorrow with the opening of ICC CWC 2007 Official Ticket Centres in the nine regional Host Venues. Applicants will be able to collect Ticket Applications Forms from these locations which they can later submit with the relevant monies. Phase 1 - Application of Public Ticketing will run until July 31, 2006.