Where's The 2007 World Cup Blueprint?

A few months ago I indicated that there was an apparent lack of urgency in these parts with regard to the hosting of the 2007 Cricket World Cup. In an effort to avoid any pessimistic thinking, I try constantly to convince myself that the distinguished gentlemen who are responsible for our successful bid, and are the privileged few who have the numbers and relevant information which would guarantee its success available to them, appear to be unperturbed by the enormity of the undertaking, thus things are as they should be.

Why then must we the "outsiders" with no input, worry? Here's why. The West Indian public have not intervened or interfered in any WICBC or WICB business over the years, and as a result, are presently a collection of voices crying in the wilderness, demanding answers for years of misinformation, mismanagement and the callous disregard of what the game means to us.

I admit that my concerns are speculative, but the realization that up to this point, territories, more directly governments, have not yet been presented with a blueprint determining their expected roles in the process is ludicrous.

South Africa, eager to showcase their splendour, will be unrelenting pacesetters, especially given the fact that their facilities which I have never heard or read about being criticized, are being upgraded at a significant cost. I'm certain your readership will be interested in some facts I unearthed. It is expected that an estimated US$4.3 million will be spent on South African grounds on the lead up to the World Cup to bring them up to standard for the tournament.

The largest amount to be spent on any one ground will be US$1.4 million at St George's Park, which will host one of the semi-finals.

Not all of the money will come from the budgeted US$4.3 million, some of the improvements will be financed by anticipated revenue from the tournament. Most of the other grounds' expenses are likely to come from improving existing media facilities.

The known allocation (from the budgeted figure): for semi final hosts Kingsmead and St George's Park, US $505,000 each, while the breakdown for the rest of the venues is, SuperSport Park and Goodyear Park also US$505,000 each; Buffalo Park US$381,000; De Beers Diamond Oval, Boland Park and Willowmoore Park US$253,000 each; North West Stadium US$159,000 and the Maritzburg Oval US $87,000.

Improvements include new drainage and irrigation systems at Kingsmead and Chatsworth. A programmable automatic pop up sprinkler system and the Shelton drainage system (whatever that is) are being installed at both grounds.

To further enlighten your readers, a new on line ticketing system for the 2003 World Cup will be 'live' in March 2002, coinciding with the present Australian tour. The system was devised by IT group Dimension Data, and the concept is that the 2003 World Cup web portal will provide a virtual view from the seat being bought over the internet to provide an informed choice of seat. Could you imagine with that technology, seats in the Rohan Kanhai Stand with all its ill positioned posts being sold to a foreigner on-line?

Four South African publishing companies have joined forces to form the publications consortium for the event, and will produce all the official publications, from match programmes to the tournament brochure along with visitors' guides and tourist information booklets. Such is the unanimity of the people to ensure that the show is without impediment.

This is just a small documented part of the effort being made by our immediate predecessors (South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya are co hosts), to market themselves to, and impress the expected 800,000 spectators and over 1 billion audience.

So Mr Dehring and company, when you speak of your innumerable meetings we're not impressed, the region is poor and therefore has to start much earlier than rest of the world. We've been hoodwinked enough lately, no more, we want the blueprint and we want it now!

* The above article first appeared as a letter to the editor in the Stabroek News.