CMEx representatives discuss the way forward for 2007 World Cup Cricket

by Marcia Braveboy 
Caribbean Net News Trinidad Correspondent

Monday, February 28, 2005

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: The pros and cons that comes with the development and interest of sport tourism in the Caribbean, underscored all other concerns when the CMEx representatives met in Trinidad and Tobago on Friday to discuss the way forward for the 2007 Cricket World Cup. 

According to Trinidad and Tobago's Tourism Minister, Howard Chin Lee, tourism will be at its all time high after the staging of the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the islands of the region. The minister said US$180 million will be sponsored by regional Governments for the construction of eight new stadiums throughout the Caribbean. 

The venues for the hosting of the games where the new stadiums will be built are: Jamaica which already has two new stadiums (the new Savannah Park) will host the opening of the games; St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Grenada, Guyana, Antigua (Sir Vivian Richards Stadium) and the place where the games will be climaxing - the Kensington Oval in Barbados. 

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Cricket World Cup 2007 Inc Chris Dehring presented a comprehensive exposition on the World Cup Cricket for 2007. 

He informed the group present that the rights of the ICC for WCC 2007 was bought by Global Cricket Corporation the world’s largest marketing group at a cost of US$ 550 million; he made it clear that the host – West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has to then deliver on the contractual terms and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) is then responsible for ensuring a smooth and proper flow in the contractual arrangement; he said the Governments then guarantees that these arrangements are met. 

According to Dehring one must appreciate the financial liabilities of the WCC 2007. He noted that that last time there was a breach of agreement on the WCC; the claim was forty seven million dollars. 

Dehring pointed out that the 2007 World Cup Cricket games must be held at world class standards even though for the first time in History the Caribbean otherwise know as third world countries, will be hosting the games in a way no other first world country has done it. 

“The 2007 World Cup Cricket games will have one host, nine venues in eight countries; this has never been done before; this has never been done in the history of World Cup Cricket” says Dehring – the CEO of ICC. 

The WCC 2007 has been described as a world class event that needs appropriate plans and regulations in place said the CWC CEO. 

Mr. Chris Dehring made the advantages of the WCC 2007 very clear; he said operational planning began last June out of which they are able to determine that there will be no operational blueprints because the event has never been held in eight countries before.

He focused on the necessities required to be in place for the smooth operational flow of the WCC 2007. He said, “The experience of the team is paramount; nothing must go wrong. The working elements must have the best tools; the event must be Caribbean – showing what the Caribbean has to offer”. 

Among eight objectives that the CWC must meet for WCC 2007 the four most important will be the “fundamental plans, high quality event management, brand legacy and infrastructure improvement”. Dehring said the financial plan is also important as it would mean having an overlay. 

Dehring created a moment of humour when he pointed out that while the WCC 2007 games seem to be a model of the CSME, it has two distinct differences to the CSME: “There is no moving of the timeline; it will happen in 2007” and “The world is not waiting to see if this is going to happen” said the CWC CEO.

He said the CWC will be establishing a bid book which would help to establish the standards they would like to achieve for World Cup 2007 

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